INDIANAPOLIS — A state Senate committee approved two proposals Monday that supporters say would make Indiana elections more accessible and meaningful.

One bill would allow Indiana citizens to register to vote online if they have a valid driver’s license or state identification card. Sen. Connie Lawson, R-Danville, said a secure Web site would allow people to register to vote or change their voter registration information quickly and easily.

“This is just another way that Indiana can move forward and encourage participation in our election process,” Lawson said.

Currently Indiana allows people to download voter registration applications online, but they must print and mail the forms.

Washington and Arizona, meanwhile, allow online voter registration. Voters there can go to a Web site, enter personal and driver’s license information and then register to vote or change their voter registration information.

Indiana’s proposed system would work in a similar way, using Bureau of Motor Vehicles information to verify that a person is eligible to vote. The BMV, secretary of state’s office and county voter registration office would be involved in processing applications.

“It will make voter registration more accessible to people,” said Julia Vaughn, policy director for the government watchdog group Common Cause of Indiana.

Another legislative proposal would create a committee to study Indiana’s presidential primary election dates.

The committee would be charged with studying whether the state should move its primary election date from early May to earlier in the year so that the state has more of a say in presidential races. The group would study the cost of a date change and whether voters would have a better chance of having their voices heard. And it would look into the possibility of joining other Midwest states to hold a regional primary.

Last year’s Democratic primary race between then Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton marked the first time in four decades that Indiana’s late primary played a significant role in a presidential campaign.

“Voters were really excited to be able to participate in a primary … that had so much meaning, at least for one party,” Vaughn said. “It increased voter participation. There was just more meaning to people’s vote.”

States around the country have scheduled earlier primaries and caucuses to attract candidates before the major party nominees are decided. Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake, said a change could be made for the 2012 presidential campaign.
“We have plenty of time to work on this issue,” Landske said.

The Senate Elections Committee unanimously approved both proposals, which now move to the full Senate for consideration.