Pam Lewis
South Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Indeed, I thank her for the assistance that she, as Minister of Justice, gave my constituents Kathryn and Aaron McCollum following the tragic death of their much-loved husband and father. Her assistance was deeply appreciated.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I very much welcome the amendment to the Justice Bill on this subject, and I thank my colleagues across the Chamber for the good work that they have done on it. What cost is the PSNI carrying for the seizure, storage and disposal of those vehicles? Is that cost creating a barrier to enforcement?”
“It progresses 18 recommendations from the independent review of charity regulation, with a focus on a more risk-based approach that promotes trust and accountability without placing undue burdens on charities.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak as a member of the Communities Committee at Second Stage of the Charities (Amendment) Bill. I thank the Minister and the Chair of the Committee for outlining the details of the Bill.”
“The public must have confidence that charitable funds are being used properly, that trustees understand their responsibilities and that there is effective oversight when misconduct or mismanagement occurs.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the streamlining of accounting and reporting requirements. For small charities, administration can be a real challenge and burden.”
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“It is, however, comforting for me to see the outrage that was demonstrated on social media by the people of my home town, Antrim, to that revolting incident. <BR /> <BR />I realise that much of the anxiety around immigration is caused by the misconception that people coming to live here are a drain on our public services. Of course, the increase in our population means that we must look at the number of available school places, the way in which we manage our healthcare system and accessibility to social housing, all in the context of financial constraints. The economic and social contribution that immigration provides cannot be ignored. For example, due to nursing shortages, our Department of Health has recently undertaken a programme of recruitment for nurses from the Philippines, Italy and Romania.”
“Immigrants are an intrinsic part of our culture, probably on a greater level than we even appreciate daily. Yet, it seems that, in recent times, we have developed an attitude that immigration is something to be feared rather than celebrated. Whilst racially driven hate crimes have decreased in the last year, they are still at an unacceptable level. There are incidents such as the recent attack on Jewish graves in the Belfast City Cemetery, and, only last week in my constituency, three young men filmed and posted to social media footage of themselves racially abusing and throwing stones at a Romanian woman. That highlights that there is still a massive amount of work to be done on how we view people of differing races and ethnic origins.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion today. From the 1600s, Northern Ireland has had a long history of immigration. From the influx of Scots during the plantation of Ulster to the 19th-century arrival of a large number of Italians. The past influences of immigrants can be seen everywhere in Northern Ireland from the growth of the linen industry, which led to vast prosperity across the Province, to the beautiful marble and terrazzo in the Great Hall of this Building, and who has not been to the north coast for an ice cream? <BR /> <BR />Between 2000 and 2014, we in Northern Ireland moved from a position of net migration loss to one of an annual population gain. During that period, it is estimated, around 175,000 people settled here, which is a completely unprecedented position for us to be in.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. In response to the first question, the Minister mentioned that prison officers are working in an exceptional environment. Given the challenging work environment, and the trauma experienced by prison officer staff on a daily basis, does the Minister consider six Carecall sessions to be sufficient provision for those suffering from conditions such as PTSD?”
“I believe that there may be an opportunity, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, to include quad bikes and scramblers in its programme of road safety awareness schemes. <BR /> <BR />In closing, there is no doubt that this problem needs to be addressed. By vigorously enforcing legislation, we have an opportunity to raise awareness of the law, and I think that we could quickly see a change in the illegal use of these vehicles. I support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is also room for improvement in awareness of what the law states. While some are mindful that they are acting illegally in the use of these vehicles, I suspect that a greater number are not aware of the consequences. Work in conjunction with local schools may assist the PSNI in getting the message across and educating young people not only about the law surrounding quads and scramblers but about the dangers that they hold and what can happen if they are used irresponsibly. <BR /> <BR />Finally, we cannot overlook the role of parental responsibility in ensuring that these vehicles are used legally. Again, I feel that there may be a lack of awareness amongst parents of the full intricacies of the law surrounding quads and scramblers, where they can be used and who can use them.”
“Quads and scramblers are not toys; they are restricted to off-road use and only on private property where permission has been granted. The PSNI has powers to confiscate any vehicles causing a public nuisance that are being driven on the road without insurance or a driving licence. The root of the problems is the lack of enforcement of the current powers. <BR /> <BR />The unlawful, aggravating and, at times, intimidating use of those vehicles is quite often viewed in the context of antisocial behaviour, and quite rightly so. However, there may be an attitude amongst individuals using quad bikes and scramblers illegally that they can deliberately flout the law as nothing will be done. Robust and swift enforcement is key to getting the message across that that behaviour is simply not acceptable.”
“Whilst her death was the most recent and harrowing such event, it was not an isolated incident. Each year, our hospitals deal with dozens of cases of, on the whole, younger people making poor choices, ignoring the law and putting their life, and the lives of others, at risk. <BR /> <BR />I fully appreciate that the use of scramblers and quad bikes in an appropriate manner, with the correct safety equipment, can be a very enjoyable activity for those involved. I am aware of a number of purpose-built facilities across Northern Ireland where scramblers and quads can be used in a controlled environment. For many, it is an exciting pastime. However, as with any activity involving powerful and fast vehicles, there are inherent risks, which are often heightened, especially when they are used in an inappropriate manner and safety is disregarded.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important matter today. I thank those who tabled the motion for bringing it to the House. <BR /> <BR />Mr Lunn referred to helmet wearing by quad bike users. As far as I am aware, that is covered under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, which we dealt with last term in the old Environment Committee. I am not sure whether that has Royal Assent yet, but, if it has not already come in, it is on its way. <BR /> <BR />I suspect that the catalyst for bringing this to the House today was, as Members across the Chamber have said, the tragic death in July of mother-of-three Valerie Armstrong, which brought into sharp focus the need to look at the legislation and enforcement currently in place. I would like to take the opportunity to send my condolences to Mrs Armstrong's family.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer and for the information contained in it. Will the Minister ensure that bureaucracy is kept to an absolute minimum with the local action groups, such as GROW South Antrim, so that they can get their letters of offer out to rural groups and businesses?”
“I thank the Minister for her answers so far. Does the Minister recognise the exceptional needs of prisoners and, indeed, prison service staff — I hear her alluding to that already, and I welcome that — by way of mental health care? Does she agree that mental health issues need to be addressed in order to assist in prisoner rehabilitation?”
“A regional programme could clearly set out a plan to deal with the issue and how best to manage it, coupled with a more considered use of current legislation and clarification of some aspects of regulation. We can easily close the loopholes surrounding Japanese knotweed and assist councils in formulating a more strategic approach. The precedent has been set in our neighbouring jurisdictions. The legal framework is in place, and the will is there. We must work towards removing the grey areas and make the treatment of Japanese knotweed simpler, quicker and less ambiguous in order to protect our precious ecosystem and the built environment.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention, and I understand that it has caused great distress to that family. The ground next to the Atkinson's property is in private ownership and would require them to take costly and time-consuming civil action, whilst the plant is growing at a rate of up to eight inches every day. They cannot cut it or dig it up, as that causes an acceleration in growth. The only method to try to eradicate it is an expensive course of chemical treatment that could take up to seven years to completely clear the problem. <BR /> <BR />Japanese knotweed is on the rapid increase in Northern Ireland, and we must take steps to ensure that we prevent its spread. I am pragmatic enough to understand that it may be virtually impossible to completely eradicate the problem, but it is a problem that we cannot continue to ignore.”
“There is also scope for councils to intervene under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 by classifying Japanese knotweed as nuisance. Nuisance is classified as something that causes damage or unreasonable and substantial interference to a person's use or enjoyment of property. The potential for damage caused by Japanese knotweed must surely be recognised under that classification, and I urge that the Act be extended to include it and give councils greater powers of enforcement. <BR /> <BR />The need for a regional programme of eradication is evident. The recent case of Mr and Mrs Atkinson, whose north Belfast home is bordered by waste ground that is infested by Japanese knotweed, plainly highlights the need for action.”
“I believe that that approach could be looked at for Northern Ireland and that the threat of the antisocial behaviour order on a landowner may, in cases, be sufficient to ensure that action is taken to treat the problem and prevent the spread. Further powers in England have been introduced under the Infrastructure Act 2015, which allows environmental authorities to enter into species control agreements with landowners and impose species control orders as required. <BR /> <BR />Legislation in Northern Ireland provides for local councils to enforce antisocial behaviour orders and address statutory nuisances. To date, the powers have not been used to deal with Japanese knotweed, which I feel is an area that could be further explored.”
“With the issue being classed as a civil matter, there is little protection to stop it spreading from one area to another. Although it is an offence to allow the spread of Japanese knotweed, it can become a costly and lengthy exercise for an individual to take a landowner to court to recover the costs of removal and disposal. The area is fraught with ambiguity, and identifying the responsibilities for containment, treatment and disposal is a massive grey area. Legislation brought forward in England in 2014 and 2015 and the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 have gone some way to addressing the spread of Japanese knotweed and have introduced the use of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBO) as a deterrent and an encouragement to deal with the problem.”
“It can be spread from the very smallest amount of a cut stem, crown or rhizome, thus making removal and disposal incredibly difficult. Often, it can be dealt with only by specialists. The invasive species strategy for Northern Ireland estimates that Japanese knotweed costs the British economy £179 million a year, and I am sure that everyone here will agree that that is a phenomenal amount of money being spent to deal with what is essentially a biological pest and a nuisance. <BR /> <BR />Japanese knotweed is classed as an invasive species under schedule 9 to the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, which makes it an offence to plant or grow it. However, there is currently no legal requirement for landowners to control or remove Japanese knotweed growing on their property.”
“The blight of invasive species is among the greatest threat to biodiversity and ecosystems globally and is viewed as a major hazard to the character of our heritage, the environment and, of course, the benefits that a diverse ecosystem provides. <BR /> <BR />The impact that it can have on the built environment is also of great concern. Japanese knotweed can penetrate concrete and tarmac and cause structural damage to buildings. That is particularly distressing for householders who have found themselves in a position in which their property becomes virtually worthless owing to the mortgage company's reluctance to lend on homes that have been affected by or are even in proximity to an infestation of Japanese knotweed. <BR /> <BR />The ability of the plant to spread is unparalleled.”
“I welcome the opportunity to propose the motion, and I hope that, in highlighting the issue, we can bring forward a strategy to deal with the problem of Japanese knotweed. <BR /> <BR />By way of background, Japanese knotweed is an invasive alien plant species introduced to the United Kingdom in the 19th century as an ornamental shrub. Since its introduction, it has spread ferociously and without obstruction, particularly on waste ground and along watercourses. The plant is so well established that it is not included on the EU list of invasive species, and it is unlikely ever to be wiped out. It becomes rapidly established in tall thickets, preventing the growth of native species. In doing so, it chokes waterways and hedgerows and greatly reduces local biodiversity.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I welcome the update on the work of the cross-jurisdictional joint agencies task force to tackle serious and organised crime. Can the Minister provide further details regarding the number of arrests made in Northern Ireland, the volume and type of illicit goods seized and when she expects prosecutions to take place?”
“I thank the First Minister for the statement this morning. Will she tell us how she considers the Northern Ireland economy to be performing in the aftermath of the referendum?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for the statement this morning. He referred to welcoming the Executive's commitment to engagement in the UK's negotiations with the European Union. How does he see this engagement with Her Majesty's Government progressing, following the recent visit by David Davis?”
“It is brave of her at the outset to make these bold statements, and I look forward to working with her on the Justice Committee and seeing this type of legislation come to fruition.”
“We must enforce the message that violence against a partner is simply not acceptable. I appreciate that not all instances of stalking take place in the context of domestic violence, but I believe that the introduction of legislation to isolate it as a specific offence will identify some much-needed boundaries and act as a deterrent to aggressive and unacceptable behaviour. It is important too, when the 2016 consultation results are published, that we look at the recommendations to see whether any can be included in a possible stalking protection order for Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I welcome the Minister's comments so far and her public commitment to dealing with domestic violence and stalking.”
“Pat Sheehan encouraged victims to keep a log and evidence of stalking behaviour. He also mentioned that our police officers required proper training to deal with the subject. <BR /> <BR />Roy Beggs talked about the different forms of stalking that take place. <BR /> <BR />That is a summary of a lot of what was mentioned here today. The mood of the House was very much in favour of making stalking a specific offence under the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order. That would, of course, bring us into line with the rest of the United Kingdom, which I would welcome. <BR /> <BR />As the chair of the all-party group on domestic violence and from my work with Women's Aid, I have had a unique insight into the aftermath and devastation that domestic violence has for victims and families.”
“She said that there was more opportunity than ever to stalk through social media and talked at length about the online situation. That requires, she suggested, in what was a very good point, more action to educate children on the subject of appropriate Internet behaviour.”
“He said that harassment was a completely different subject and that stalkers were often delusional. <BR /> <BR />Michaela Boyle spoke next. She said that we needed to look at the lessons learned in the rest of the UK in bringing forward stalking legislation. She also said that the courts needed the right training and that appropriate sentencing was required. She asked the Minister for a robust media campaign on the subject. <BR /> <BR />Sandra Overend said that the right to be protected and supported for those who are being stalked was needed.”
“We know that that is even worse than the domestic violence statistics, where, I think, there are over 35 incidents before a report is made to the police. <BR /> <BR />Trevor Lunn supported the motion and the amendment. He paid tribute to Mrs Hale for bringing the motion to the Chamber. He talked about the Policing Board not having the statistics to record stalking and compared the difficulty of defining bullying and cyberbullying with stalking. <BR /> <BR />Paul Frew spoke next. He said that stalking could be and sometimes was the butt of many a joke. He referred to the seat belt law and what is enforceable and talked about how that law had saved lives. He also said that workplaces, neighbourhoods, streets and homes were becoming prisons for victims of stalking and, again, that there was no law to protect them.”
“She mentioned the stopping domestic and sexual violence and abuse strategy and how it does not deal effectively with stalking. She wanted a commitment from the Minister to address stalking legislation. <BR /> <BR />Declan Kearney said that there had been no measurable progress on the subject, despite it having been discussed around the Chamber since 2012. He also mentioned that men and women were impacted by stalking. <BR /> <BR />Doug Beattie said that the debate on the motion might be looked on as a "soft debate", but he clarified that by saying that it was not. He said that stalking is a crime that robs people of their dignity — how true is that? He said that there was a need for a specific offence of stalking. I think that he was the first to mention that there may be 100 incidents of stalking before a report is made to the police.”
“She talked about the fact that there is no legal definition of stalking. She very powerfully quoted a victim of stalking and the horrors of that experience. She talked about the PHA and said that that was not an effective tool against stalking, and she spoke of the Department's strategy and the need to include stalking in that strategy. She welcomed the amendment and the support from the SDLP for the DUP motion and called on the Minister to deal with the lack of provision to deal effectively with stalking in legislation. <BR /> <BR />Claire Hanna proposed the amendment to support and strengthen the motion. That was very much welcomed. She said that some men felt a sense of entitlement towards some women. She also talked about the fact that there was no legislation on stalking in Northern Ireland.”
“The inquiry found that the law was not fit for purpose, and changes were made that reflected changes already made to Scottish law in 2010. I call on the Minister of Justice to recognise that, if a law has been recognised as not fit to protect victims of stalking in England, Wales and Scotland, it should not be accepted for the people of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I want to add some comments from the other Members who contributed to the debate. I am pleased that so many took part in a very full debate and, indeed, that there was support across the Chamber for the motion and the amendment. I very much welcome that. <BR /> <BR />The proposer of the motion, Brenda Hale, spoke about her experience of helping constituents in dealing with what really is a crime of stalking.”
“Under current legislation, stalking is not recognised as specific behaviour, and it falls short in recognising that serious alarm or distress causes the victim harm. That, therefore, means that perpetrators are only prosecuted under a section 2 summary offence as no violence has occurred, are dealt with at Magistrates' Court level and can be free to resume their threatening, intimidating and sinister behaviour within months of release from prison. Given the scope for the problem to grow exponentially with the explosion of social media, we urgently need legislation to protect people from unwanted or unsolicited contact. <BR /> <BR />The changes to the law in England and Wales occurred following a parliamentary inquiry into the efficacy of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in dealing with the perpetrators of stalking.”
“<BR /> <BR />The introduction of specific stalking legislation would be a small but enormously impactful step towards dealing with stalking, particularly in the context of domestic violence. With stalking being such a menacing and underhand offence, victims often do not realise that it is happening until it has spiralled to a distressing level. Victims can suffer anything from being watched, physically and virtually, to harassment and intimidation. While England and Wales have recognised that the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 was not specific enough to deal with stalking, Northern Ireland has not given the PSNI and the courts the powers to deal effectively with the offence.”
“With one in eight crimes reported to the PSNI being of a domestic nature, it is clear that, with such a high volume of occurrences, stalking will undoubtedly be involved in many of those cases. It is widely recognised that domestic violence has a huge impact on the economy through the cost to the health service and the justice system and in providing emergency housing. Women's Aid estimates the cost to be in the region of £180 million per year. That is a financial burden that Northern Ireland can ill afford. Given the financial implications alone, we should be looking to multi-agency and joined-up working to ensure that we do all that we can to remove this blight on our society.”
“Societal changes have meant that the lines of what is acceptable behaviour are often blurred, particularly with the Internet and social media. Without legislation, victims are at risk of serious psychological and physical harm whilst perpetrators are allowed, without sufficient deterrence, to continue and, in most cases, escalate their behaviour. With so many victims of stalking falling between the cracks in legislation, we are failing to protect victims from serious mental distress, physical injury and, in the worst cases, rape and even murder. <BR /> <BR />Most of you will be aware of my work with Women's Aid. Sadly, it appears that instances of stalking go hand in hand with domestic violence.”
“I rise to support the motion and to thank my colleague Brenda Hale for bringing this incredibly relevant issue to the House today. I declare an interest as the chair of the all-party group on domestic violence. <BR /> <BR />As we are the only part of the United Kingdom without specific legislation to deal with stalking, the people of Northern Ireland are being left in a vulnerable and exposed position. It is incredibly alarming that people in our part of the United Kingdom are not being afforded the same protection and are at greater risk from perpetrators and their actions than our neighbours in mainland UK. With the increased use of social media, the opportunities to make a person's life a misery are infinite and easily accessible.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer so far. Does he agree with me that the criteria that give automatic admission to those who are claiming benefits disadvantage those parents or guardians who are working?”
“I welcome the junior Minister to his first Question Time and congratulate him on his role. Can he outline what the mental trauma service will deliver as part of the service delivery to victims?”
“I will indeed. He also spoke of the fear that votes will be lost through the proposed changes. He also spoke about the tremendous work of the Electoral Office in Northern Ireland, and I think that that is a good line to end on because we all have very good things to say about Electoral Office staff in particular. <BR /> <BR />I thank everybody for their contributions to the debate. I support the motion.”
“William Irwin spoke of services such as getting an ID card and photographs taken for free, and of the Electoral Office's value.”
“<BR /> <BR />Caoimhe Archibald questioned the logic of centralising the services and said that electoral services should be delivered at a local level. Some of the services would not be available online, and she gave an example of a constituent she had dealings with over the election period.”
“She talked about modern technology and broadband services in West Tyrone, or the lack thereof. <BR /> <BR />George Robinson also contributed. He worried about the reduction in local services and spoke about the importance and value of the local office. He said that to remove the service would be a false economy. <BR /> <BR />Mike Nesbitt was in support of the motion but not the amendment. He said that there was a huge lack of information flowing from the Newtownards office and questioned the change. He also questioned whether the public would travel to Belfast to register to vote, and I greatly doubt that too, with bus lanes. He also referred to proposals to move to a completely online process for firearms licensing, and how this will not work for all people.”
“He also spoke about the lack of proper consultation. He talked about the reduction in numbers on the register and the need to keep them up. He said that the motion was unrealistic and that we needed to face reality, but that we should insist on genuine consultation on the issue. <BR /> <BR />Sydney Anderson also spoke on the motion. He talked about the important role the Electoral Office plays in our democracy. He talked about the budget reduction of 25% and, as we all have, had something to say about his local office, in Banbridge this time. I think that everybody has had good reports of how helpful staff have been in each and every constituency. <BR /> <BR />Michaela Boyle spoke to the amendment. She had a clear message to the NIO that the six offices should not be closed.”
“He praised Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, which has worked hard for a solution, without joy. He talked about the complete collapse of the online registration system in England last week. He did not support the amendment. He said that money should be found, at least temporarily, to ensure that the Ballymena office remained open. <BR /> <BR />Daniel McCrossan supported the motion and said that the SDLP was standing four-square behind the staff of the offices. He spoke of his concern for rural areas, asked about the provision of broadband services and talked about those who are not computer-literate. He said that there was a need to do more to encourage the public to vote. <BR /> <BR />David Ford spoke about his relationship with the local office in Newtownabbey, but he stressed the need for realism in the proposals.”
“He referred to the declining turnout at elections in Northern Ireland. He said that he had no difficulty with the introduction of online services, but that they needed to be run in conjunction with local electoral offices. He also asked who would promote the work in the community and schools, as is done currently. He spoke of the risk to public confidence from online registration; we are all aware of what happened recently in England in regard to that. <BR /> <BR />Daithí McKay moved the amendment and spoke about the Electoral Office from a public rep's point of view. He spoke about being powerless in the situation, and that is where his party's proposed amendment comes in. <BR /> <BR />Robin Swann also spoke about the local office in North Antrim and the fact that Ballymena is being closed before the consultation is finished.”
“I acknowledge the need to reform the Electoral Office to save money, but the closure of the local offices is not the way forward. I implore the Secretary of State and the Northern Ireland Office to maintain and protect the future of these offices to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland continue to avail themselves of the same unparalleled access to the democratic process that we have enjoyed for the past 44 years. <BR /> <BR />I will move on to some of the comments by other Members in the debate. I welcome the fact that so many Members have seen fit to speak in the debate; it has certainly been well contributed to. The proposer, Tom Buchanan, led off the debate. He stated that he was not supporting the amendment and that he wished to work with the Secretary of State and the NIO to retain the six electoral offices.”
“I sincerely hope that, should the worst-case scenario be arrived at and the local offices close, at the very least, provision can be made for the service to be maintained, for instance at the local council offices, and that the highly experienced Electoral Office staff can be redeployed to fill those roles. I was heartened that Mr Wallace refuted the speculation that electoral services would be available only in Belfast and hope that efforts are focused on retaining a local service. <BR /> <BR />The central principle of today's motion is protecting the democratic rights of the people of Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I am sure that all Members did, I recently received a letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ben Wallace MP, which acknowledged the importance of maintaining the ability of the electorate to exercise their democratic right. I hope that Mr Wallace has recognised the strength of feeling within Northern Ireland to maintain local services and will reflect that when it comes the time to make his decision on the future of local offices. Mr Wallace's letter went on to refer to the possibility of closer working with local councils to continue to provide a local electoral service.”
“I sincerely hope that that will encourage more of the younger generation to participate, as, at times, they appear somewhat disengaged with politics. <BR /> <BR />Conversely, in my constituency office, the vast number of calls requesting information and guidance on voter registration and postal and proxy voting come from the older generation. I am concerned that the closure of local offices will mean that those people will simply not vote, as the once-familiar process will have changed greatly. There are, of course, the inevitable jobs losses that could come with the office closures and the impact that that would have on those individuals must not be forgotten.”
“With electoral turnout widely in the region of 50%, we must do all that we can to ensure that we make political engagement as easy and as transparent as possible in an attempt to increase that figure and prevent any further decline. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate that the Electoral Office, like so many Departments, faces increasing financial constraints, and we must make savings to live within our means, but I feel that the closure of the offices will be detrimental. I similarly appreciate that it is moving towards digital voter registration in line with the rest of the UK, which, I hope, will encourage more people to register to vote. We live in a generation that is led by technology, and the ability to register to vote via the Internet, at any time of day or night, should be embraced for its convenience and accessibility.”