Hawaii will vote for election-day voter-registration next week

[Tender Branson]

http://hawaii.politics.government.blogs.civilbeat.com/post/83871027259/voter-registration-on-election-day-gets-ok-from-hawaii

But it will only start in 2018 ...

[Tender Branson]

Good for Hawaii, because Hawaii had the worst turnout rate among all states in 2012:

http://www.nonprofitvote.org/documents/2013/03/america-goes-to-the-polls-2012.pdf

They hope to increase the turnout rate by 5-8% with this bill.

[RedSLC]

Good. This really needs to be an option in every state.

[free my dawg]

Glorious news. Glad to see the good guys are fighting back in the War on Voting.

[politicallefty]

I'm glad to see this. All states with total Democratic rule need to adopt laws like these. The only problem I see is the fact that it takes so long to take effect. I see no reason why it shouldn't take effect for the 2016 election.

[greenforest32]

Massachusetts might pass it too: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/01/17/3178071/massachusetts-voting-rights/

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[Zioneer]

Good. This really needs to be an option in every state.

Utah is actually doing this as well. (most recent article I could find; the governor has indeed signed it)

[greenforest32]

It passed: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/04/30/3432698/hawaii-election-day-registration/

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[greenforest32]

Delaware could be next too: http://delaware.newszap.com/centraldelaware/131039-70/same-day-voting-measure-passes-delaware-house

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[greenforest32]

Massachusetts might pass it too: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/01/17/3178071/massachusetts-voting-rights/

Nope...

http://www.wbur.org/2014/05/13/mass-early-voting-bill

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[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I'm surprised that Massachusetts didn't already have pre-registration for at least 17 year olds.  Indeed, here in South Carolina you can register at age 17 and even vote in primaries at age 17 if you'll be 18 when the general election for that office is held.

[greenforest32]

Wow, Illinois just passed it. But it's for 2014 only?

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/illinois/2014/05/30/election-day-registration-bill-goes-to-gov-quinn/9798461/

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[Flake]

Wow, Illinois just passed it. But it's for 2014 only?

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/illinois/2014/05/30/election-day-registration-bill-goes-to-gov-quinn/9798461/

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I feel like Quinn did it so he would have a better chance on election day, it would look less suspicious if the bill had been for all future elections.

[Tender Branson]

I would somehow laugh my ass off if Quinn loses despite all these efforts ...

[Brittain33]

I'm surprised that Massachusetts didn't already have pre-registration for at least 17 year olds.  Indeed, here in South Carolina you can register at age 17 and even vote in primaries at age 17 if you'll be 18 when the general election for that office is held.

I feel like access to voting had to be polarized and politicized for the Mass. legislature to realize this could be a Democratic move.

Our civic culture can be odd. Until 10 years ago, the assembly was essentially ruled by a self-proclaimed philosopher-king who ignored referenda and controlled the Democratic majority through punishment.

[Ebowed]

Wow, Illinois just passed it. But it's for 2014 only?

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/illinois/2014/05/30/election-day-registration-bill-goes-to-gov-quinn/9798461/

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I feel like Quinn did it so he would have a better chance on election day, it would look less suspicious if the bill had been for all future elections.

Comedy gold

[Hifly]

Glorious news. Glad to see the good guys are fighting back in the War on Voting.

Does the Utah Republican Party count as "good guys" too?

[greenforest32]

Also Montana will vote on a GOP-pushed referendum to abolish election-day registration this November:

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/article_778d6b9a-e84f-11e3-852b-001a4bcf887a.html

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[muon2]

Wow, Illinois just passed it. But it's for 2014 only?

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/illinois/2014/05/30/election-day-registration-bill-goes-to-gov-quinn/9798461/

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That's how you know it is a purely political move and not a general policy designed to improve voter access. Most of the package of changes were aimed solely to improve chances for 2014 with no risk in future elections if the dynamics are different. The Dems got burned by the success of Cohen for LG in 2010 using the Feb primary established to give Obama a jump in the 2008 delegate count. They don't want a repeat of that type of election reform.

[Badger]

Wow, Illinois just passed it. But it's for 2014 only?

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/illinois/2014/05/30/election-day-registration-bill-goes-to-gov-quinn/9798461/

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That's how you know it is a purely political move and not a general policy designed to improve voter access. Most of the package of changes were aimed solely to improve chances for 2014 with no risk in future elections if the dynamics are different. The Dems got burned by the success of Cohen for LG in 2010 using the Feb primary established to give Obama a jump in the 2008 delegate count. They don't want a repeat of that type of election reform.

I take it you voted no?

I agree it's silly and makes it unnecesarily political to only apply to this November, but I'm a huge fan of increased voter participation and accordingly hipe if it works ok this year then the reform will be made permenant.

Or am I being naive?

[AggregateDemand]

It works for Hawaii because they are on an island in the middle of the Pacific. People can't just drive across the border from neighboring districts/states/countries and take advantage of an expedited system. Alaska could probably do the same. Rhode Island?

[politicallefty]

That's how you know it is a purely political move and not a general policy designed to improve voter access. Most of the package of changes were aimed solely to improve chances for 2014 with no risk in future elections if the dynamics are different. The Dems got burned by the success of Cohen for LG in 2010 using the Feb primary established to give Obama a jump in the 2008 delegate count. They don't want a repeat of that type of election reform.

Even as a Democrat who would support Quinn, I think passing a law like that is ridiculous. I'm supportive of expansive voting rights laws, including same-day registration. However, it is an absurd and blatant partisan move to enact it only for this year. It really is inexcusable for a law like this to be in effect only for the upcoming election.

[CountryClassSF]

I believe same-day registration opens up a Pandora's Box.  How can the poll workers vet the person who is registering?  I would hope the same-day registration requires a photo ID (yes, I know, perish the thought that we be like most other 1st world nations and verify who's voting) -- as well as proof of citizenship.