Election day registration

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SAME DAY REGISTRATION Voter Turnout and Wisconsin's Progressive Tradition

Today Wisconsin is one of 18 states which allow Same Day Registration‚ or election day registration. Voters who come to the polls with valid proof of residence are allowed to register and vote on election day. This practice helps Wisconsin maintain one of the highest voter turnout rates in the country as well as allowing for more individuals with disabilities to vote in Wisconsin than anywhere else. The practice of election day registration is part of the progressive and open tradition in Wisconsin elections; a tradition that ensures open primaries and fair, transparent elections policy.

This tradition and the benefits it has brought Wisconsin are under attack. This year the Wisconsin legislature narrowly blocked passage of Assembly Bill 158 which would have eliminated election day registration in the state. The proponents of this bill claim a host of horrors waits in the wings, from voter fraud to, well...‚voter fraud. They paint the election day registration process as somehow inferior to preregistration or insinuate that fraudulent votes cast on election day will be counted uncritically.

None of these claims are true.

No study of election crimes has shown that election day registration increases voter fraud in any way. Some studies point to a possible reduction in election crimes for states that have passed election day registration laws.
Election day registration increases voter turnout substantially. In Wisconsin alone, voter turnout was 11% higher than the national average. Numerous studies have shown that this is due specifically to election day registration.
Same day ballots and registration face the same level of scrutiny as voter registration rolls from weeks before election day. One study suggests that same day registrants would face a higher level of scrutiny because polling officials would be on the scene.
Nearly one third of the nation moves every two years, making ease of registration and re-registration a dominant factor in voter turnout, not age and attitude.

Election day registration isn't perfect. Allowing registration at the polls costs more money and makes waiting for a ballot slightly longer (as some workers who would otherwise be devoted to processing registered voters are devoted to registering new voters). But the return on that investment is a huge increase in participation, especially for voters who can't take a day off to register. This accessibility is critical especially for individuals with disabilities, for whom the trip to the polls may represent a considerable amount of effort. The Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities supports election day registration as one facet in the state's efforts to make polling places accessible to all voters.

Sources

Squire, P. et al (Mar., 1987). Residential Mobility and Voter Turnout. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 81, No. 1 , pp. 45-65

Highton, Benjamin (May, 1997). Easy Registration and Voter Turnout. The Journal of Politics, Vol. 59, No. 2, pp. 565-575

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Election day registration

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