By David Matthau - NJ 101.5 FM - August 23, 2010

A Jersey lawmaker is pushing a plan to create a pilot program - that would let active duty members of the military serving overseas vote in local elections - using the internet.

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty says "we should make it easier for the people who fight for our freedoms to exercise their freedom to vote, and that's what this bill would do."

He says "we think that the technology exists for this type of a pilot program - to make it available for people serving overseas…if we can figure out how to create all kinds of retail transactions - and let people spend millions of dollars through the internet, we should be able to come up with a way for our fighting men and women overseas to cast their votes and do it securely."

Moriarty adds this kind of a program could eventually open the door to internet voting - for all Jersey residents."

"We have very low voting levels in the past 10 years" he says, "we need to certainly make it easier - especially for younger people - to be a part of the process

Specifically, the bill requires the Secretary of State to: (1) create an Internet-based voting system for the pilot project that: (a) uses such technology as may be available to ensure the security of the ballot being voted, the privacy of the voter casting the ballot and the integrity of the voting process for the elections at which Internet voting is to be available; and (b) employs to the extent possible any guidelines for an Internet voting pilot project that assists overseas voters that are proposed or promulgated by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission or any other agency of the federal government; (2) consult with representatives of the clerks of the counties, the superintendents of elections and the county boards of election with the regard to the development and implementation of the pilot project; (3) provide sufficient and accessible notice and information to the public and overseas voters with respect to the pilot project and the requirements for such voters to participate in the elections at which Internet voting is to be available; and (4) promulgate such temporary rules and regulations as the secretary deems necessary to effectuate the purpose of this act.

Moriarty is hoping to formally introduce the measure in the coming weeks.