There’s no good argument against same-day voter registration | Sheneman

By Drew Sheneman | The Star-Ledger

Source: NJ.com

I’d like to think we’re fairly capable people. New Jersey has world class academic, scientific and cultural institutions. I believe we can chew gum and walk at the same time but Senate President Nicholas Scutari doesn’t share the same ‘glass half full’ view of our collective cognitive abilities, otherwise he would get out of the way and finally let us have same-day voter registration. Same-day registration is the standard in 21 other states. If Idaho can handle it, we can, too.

Same-day registration has some distinctive benefits. Making it easier to vote invariably increases turnout and more democracy = more better. Scutari objects to same-day registration, which 60% of voters support, on two grounds, one practical, the other ideological.

The Senate president has mentioned on many occasions how he just doesn’t understand how people can’t manage to register 21 days before an election. People have any number of incredibly valid reasons for letting voter registration fall to the back burner. Sick kid, sick parent, work obligations, health concerns, the list goes on and on. Not being able to hit an arbitrary three-week deadline shouldn’t disqualify a citizen from participating in an election.

Scutari’s second objection centers on the ability of poll workers to handle the shift to same-day. Same-day voting simply involves showing up, presenting ID and filling out a provisional ballot. While volume would certainly increase, the process is already in place. Provisional ballots are already a thing, election officials simply ask for a 60-90 day heads up to prepare.

Allowing a greater number of New Jerseyans to access provisional ballots won’t induce mass hysteria. The Earth will remain on its axis, cats will continue to needlessly knock glassware off the counter and we’ll remove a silly roadblock to increased voter turnout.