BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Californians have taken a more modern route in making sure they are involved politically.

More than 544,000 Californians submitted voter registration applications online in the new system's first month, according to the Secretary of State, Debra Brown.

The option to register online began on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

The  online system searches the Department of Motor Vehicles database for the applicant's driver's license or identification card number, date of birth and last four digits of their Social Security number. 

If the information matches what the voter provided on the registration form, the voter can authorize elections officials to use an electronic image of their DMV signature to complete the application.  After that, the voter only needs to click a 'submit' button.  

Californians must register to vote by Oct. 22 if they want to participate in the Nov. 6 election.

Postmarks count for paper applications, but online applications must be submitted--not started--by midnight that day.

To register online, locals can go to the Kern County elections website and click Register to Vote under Voter Information on the left-hand side of the screen.