Same Day Voter Registration Helps Voters Participate, But It's More Complicated Than it Used to Be

Today’s Links

Articles: 

National Conference of State Legislatures - Same Day Voter Registration Around the U.S. 
Ballotpedia - Same-day voter registration
University of Massachusetts - NEW STUDY FINDS THAT STATES WITH SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION HAVE HIGHER BLACK AND LATINX TURNOUT
American Academy of Arts & Sciences - Same-Day and Universal Voting Registration
Brennan Center - Election Day Registration: A Study of Voter Fraud Allegations and Findings on Voter Roll Security

Groups Taking Action:
Brennan Center for Justice,  Common Cause, When We All Vote

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia allow citizens to register to vote on election day.   But that doesn’t mean that same-day registration is convenient, simple, or that your vote will count in all cases.  

The National Conference of State Legislatures just released a summary of states with same-day registration, which shows that states which have it have a higher voter participation.  It also says that studies have not conclusively shown a partisan advantage from same-day registration.

Despite the data, Republican state legislatures have put in more restrictions on same day registration, erroneously claiming election fraud.  These restrictions may include signing an affidavit under penalty of fines or imprisonment that you are eligible to vote.    Other states allow same day registration, but require the use of a provisional ballot if the voter’s eligibility can’t be established on election day.  Provisional ballots that may not count unless the voter returns with the proper verification within a specified time.  

So, while students, new residents or new voters benefit from same day registration, the tightening of these restrictions makes registering well before election day with your local election office a more certain option.  And in many states, that pre-registration deadline is 30 days before the election.  November 8th is just 40 days away, so time is short. 

Information on same-day registration states and registration requirements for all 50 states can be found at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  

Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we HAVE, it’s something we DO!”  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.