ST. PAUL — Minnesota lawmakers are hoping to minimize any lapse in the state’s online voter registration system.

A judge ruled Monday that the portal be shut off because Secretary of State Mark Ritchie lacked the power to set it up unilaterally. A lawsuit over the legitimacy of the system prompted state legislators to consider making it permanent in law.

That bill passed the House by a wide margin. The Senate planned to vote on it today. If Gov. Mark Dayton signs the bill immediately, there could be little or no lapse in availability.

Some 3,600 people have used the tool to register to vote or update an existing registration since Ritchie launched it in September.

Minnesota is one of 18 states that have allowed online registration.