Online voter registration, which already should be in place in Pennsylvania, moved a step toward implementation last week when the state Senate voted unanimously to make that option possible.

Now the issue moves to the state House, which should approve the measure.

The issue seems like a no-brainer, considering how many other important functions are carried out online, like personal banking, filing income taxes, shopping, and carrying out driver- and vehicle-related business with the state Department of Transportation.

Safeguards can be applied to online voter registration to ensure that the process is secure.

This state should follow the lead of the 12 other states that already have online voter registration. Meanwhile, four other states have approved legislation authorizing online registration, but have yet to implement.

There also would be financial advantages to the online option. Information available from the state of Arizona lists the cost of processing a standard paper registration at 83 cents, while the cost of processing an online registration is 3 cents.

There would be an upfront cost for Pennsylvania to establish the online process, but that cost could be recouped quickly.

Meanwhile, Ron Ruman, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State, told a Pittsburgh newspaper that any cost savings would more likely be realized by the counties, which handle voter registrations before forwarding them to the commonwealth.

The online-registration meas-ure’s chief sponsor is Sen. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster, who said, “I think it is a common-sense change that encourages people to participate in the process. It’s hard to argue against that.”

The Senate’s unanimous action confirms Smucker’s thinking. The House, which often becomes bogged down in partisan quicksand over even trivial issues should set aside that unproductive behavior and give online voter registration the quick attention that it deserves.

Smucker’s bill — Senate Bill 37 — also would allow current voters to make address changes and switch their party affiliation, if they so desire.

The bill wouldn’t impact the Keystone State’s controversial voter ID law, which a judge blocked from being implemented last year prior to the November election.

Arguments in court over the ID law are to begin in July.

More and more the public is becoming accustomed to — and using — online services. With the easy availability of the technology to implement this voter-registration alternative, it should be seen as backward thinking for the House to give anything but a quick thumbs-up.

Andy Hoover, legislative director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said it best:

“Elections should be run as smoothly as possible. Online registration can make the process more precise. That leads to less delay and fewer problems on Election Day.”

That’s what the voting public wants, as much as no infringements on the right to vote.