Congressman Sabo (D-MN) Introduces Same Day Voter Registration Bill

[dflprincess]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4117277.html

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Rep. Martin Sabo, D-Minn., introduced legislation Wednesday that would let all citizens register to vote on Election Day.

Although Minnesota has had same-day voter registration since 1974, Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer (a Republican) said she wouldn't recommend extending that to other states. Preregistration is "the standard in most states, and that's the norm," she said. "It's much easier when you have a cutoff date for registration."

Kiffmeyer testified Wednesday before the House Administration Committee. The panel was considering a separate bill that would provide for special elections in the case of a terrorist attack or other tragedy. Under the proposal, states would be required to hold special elections no later than 21 days after the Speaker of the House announced the vacancies.

Though the legislation is still in its preliminary stages, Sabo said the special election bill concerns him because more than half the states require citizens to register sooner than 21 days before an election.

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Kiffmeyer also mentions in the article that preregistration makes the election go more smoothly for voters and election officials. "Certainly voting is serious enough that we should prepare for it," she said.

Yeah, I said, it makes it way easier to prepare for an election by knocking qualified voters off the lists, knowing they won't be able to register again on election day.