TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT THE

ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION

PROVISION IN S.B. 1312

"AAC Technical Changes to the Conduct of Election, Certain Compensation of Registrars of Voters and Election Day Registration." 

Election Day Registration (EDR), also called “same day registration,” allows eligible voters to register and vote on Election Day.  Eight states currently have EDR, including New Hampshire and Maine.   

Opponents have argued that the risk of fraud is too great. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office conducted an exhaustive investigation and found no evidence of double voting during the 2004 election.  (To see more about the New Hampshire investigation, go to our website www.lwvct.org and click on action center.) According to February, 2007 testimony before the GAE Committee, there has never been a substantiated case of voter fraud due to EDR in Maine, an EDR state since 1972.  In addition to criminal penalties, safeguards being proposed for Connecticut include requiring the applicant to appear in person, provide identification and swear an oath, checking the state-wide online voter registration database, and sending a follow-up mailing. 

Why support Election Day Registration? 

 Ø      EDR states consistently boast higher voter turnout rates than non-EDR states.  In 2006, voter turnout in EDR states was, on average, over 10% higher than in non-EDR states.  EDR opens the field for candidates by enabling citizens who have been inspired by a candidate’s message to vote on Election Day.

 Ø      EDR assists young people and people who move frequently for schools, jobs and family.  Research suggests that EDR can boost turnout among young people by as much as 14%. Young people and people who move frequently have a difficult time keeping their voter registrations current.  EDR allows these individuals to register and vote on Election Day. 

 Ø      EDR reduces the need for provisional ballots and allows eligible voters who may have been mistakenly left off the voting rolls to cast a meaningful ballot.   Federal law requires states to offer provisional ballots to voters whose names do not appear on the voter registry.  In 2004, almost two million provisional ballots were cast and more than 1/3 of those ballots were not counted. 

 Ø      The state-wide centralized voter registration system is fully functional. The time has come to do away with arbitrary voter registration deadlines and patchwork programs and to embrace a simpler, more efficient Election Day Registration system.

 Please call or e-mail your delegation today and tell them to vote for EDR in SB1312.  Thank you!

E-mail:  CT General Assembly Website at www.cga.ct.gov and then click on left for House and Senate links

Main Switchboard:

Senate Democrats                    (800) 842-1420 or (860) 240-8600

Senate Republicans                   (800) 842-1421 or (860) 240-8800

House Democrats                     (800) 842-8267, 842-1902 or (860) 240-8500

House Republicans                   (800) 842-8270, 842-1423 or (860) 240-8700

For more information, please contact Christine S. Horrigan at cshorrigan@optonline.net 

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