Urgent Action needed in Support of Revised EDR proposal 5/21/07
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*****URGENT*****
ACTION NEEDED ON SAME DAY REGISTRATION SB 1312
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
With less than three weeks left in the session, the legislature has yet to pass a good governance bill. It’s time to make some noise!
Election Day Registration is a League priority. We have listened carefully to those who have not supported EDR based upon concerns ranging from voter fraud to increased Election Day workload. Taking these into account, the League and its coalition partners have developed a revised legislative proposal – an EDR demonstration project for the 2008 presidential primaries.
A demonstration project for presidential primaries is relatively simple and easy and can provide information regarding the benefits and pitfalls of same day registration in an environment where any “glitches” will not adversely impact the outcome. For more information, please see our fact sheet which appears below.
We have a real chance to pass this demonstration project. Please contact your legislators today, ask them to support the presidential primary demonstration project, and then forward this email to your family and friends. Thank you! Together, we can make a difference.
GENERAL CONTACT INFORMATION:
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
S.B. 1312 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ______________________________________________________
What is Same Day Registration?
Same Day Registration, also called “election day registration” or “EDR,” allows eligible voters to register and vote on the same day. Currently, eight states have EDR including Maine and New Hampshire.
Why choose the ’08 presidential primary to “test the waters” in Connecticut on same day registration?
Because it is relatively simple and easy. As a demonstration project, the presidential primary offers several advantages over a regular election.
Ø Under current law, an individual can register to vote and an unaffiliated voter can enroll in a party up until noon of the day preceding the primary—the demonstration project asks the registrars to extend that period by 18 hours. Ø The demonstration project in a primary would allow the state to identify and address any difficulties with the centralized voter registration system prior to implementation of full Election Day registration. Ø Since each party has its own primary, there’s no issue as to who benefits the most. Ø The presidential primary is sufficiently removed from local politics and the results of the primaries, while important, are unlikely to determine the party nominations. Ø A same day registration demonstration project would make Connecticut stand out in the crowded field of presidential primaries.
What happens after the presidential primary?
The demonstration project is intended to provide information regarding the benefits and pitfalls of same day registration in an environment where any “glitches” will not adversely impact the outcome. After the primary, the Secretary of the State will survey election officials and submit a report on her findings and recommendations to implement Election Day registration to the GAE Committee.
LWVCT URGES YOU TO SUPPORT THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
IT’S EASY. IT’S CONTROLLED. IT’S INFORMATIVE.
For more information, please contact Christine S. Horrigan at cshorrigan@optonline.net
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