The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 29, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
In 21 states plus DC, election-day voter registration has a proven record of enabling younger, nonwhite, and frequently moving citizens to vote – which is why anti-voter legislatures are scrambling to end or neutralize it. Use it if you must, but registering early is a better way to make sure your vote counts.
The MIT Election Data & Science Lab finds that while results vary by state, election-day registration boosts turnout 3 – 6%. Pew Research found earlier this year that 57% of Americans approve of election-day registration, but a perception that election-day registrants lean liberal, mobilized some anti-voter state legislatures to tighten its rules or eliminate it altogether.
Montana eliminated its same-day registration in 2021. New Hampshire has had same-day registration since 1994, but state Republicans now claim, without merit, that it’s vulnerable to fraud. Their true target is keeping college students from voting. For other anti-voter legislatures, it’s Black or Hispanic voters. New Hampshire changed its rules to require same-day registrants to use provisional ballots, pending verification of citizenship and residency documents. Five more states now allow same-day only during early voting.
If it’s a choice over whether you vote or not, by all means register same-day. But registering NOW, or during an early in-person voting period, ensures you can get the right documents to register, vote, and have that vote COUNT.
We’ve linked to the rules for your state at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl
Articles & Resources:
Voting Rights Lab – Availability of Same-Day Voter Registration
Brennan Center for Justice- Election Day Registration Could Cut Through Many of the Arguments in the Voting Wars
MIT Election Data & Science Lab – Same-day registration
University of Massachusetts Amherst – NEW STUDY FINDS THAT STATES WITH SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION HAVE HIGHER BLACK AND LATINX TURNOUT
BallotPedia – Arguments for and against same-day voter registration
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
Groups Taking Action:
Rock the Vote, Mi Familia Vota, Black Voters Matter, League of Women Voters Vote 411, Brennan Center for Justice, ACLU, Center for Voter Information, Native Vote, APIAVote
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #EarlyVoterRegistration #SameDayRegistration #ElectionDayRegistration #RegisterandVote