Reply #3: Cameron F. Kerry: Voting made easy [View All]

[Wilms]

Voting made easy

October 3, 2005

By Cameron F. Kerry

THE TIME has come for Massachusetts to adopt same day voter registration, that is, legislation permitting voters to register on Election Day. The reason is simple and compelling for a Commonwealth with a long history of standing up for freedom: Same day registration enfranchises more voters.

Look at its track record. This system has been implemented successfully in six other states, including New Hampshire and Maine . These six states have 9 percent higher voter participation than other states and, of the five states with the highest voter turnout last November, four have same day registration.

Two same day registration bills are pending in the Legislature, one filed by Representative Gloria Fox, the other by Senator Cynthia Creem. These bills offer a common-sense way to streamline registration, reduce confusion, and increase voter turnout and access to the polls. The Legislature has the important opportunity to allow some pilot programs in municipal elections and to implement same day registration statewide in 2006.

There was a time when voting in Massachusetts was the exclusive privilege of white, male landowners. The more we have expanded voting, the more we have lived up to our democratic ideals. But we have more to do. Excluding citizens who have not registered 20 days before an election is an unnecessary barrier that does not improve the efficiency or fairness of elections.

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http://www.massdems.org/hotissues/mdppr_79_votingeasy.htm


Thanks to paineinthearse for posting

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x396249