January 29, 2010 - Push for Same Day Voter Registration in California

News Source: KCBS
Title: Push for Same Day Voter Registration in California
Date: January 29, 2010

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KCBS)  -- Same day voter registration could be a reality in California before the 2012 presidential election.

Senator Leland Yee plans to introduce an Election Day Registration Bill so that voters can register and cast a ballot on the same day. Currently the state’s voter rolls stop adding names 15 days prior to an election.

“I think it’s something that is a barrier to participation,” he said.

The chief elections officer for San Mateo County, Warren Slocum, predicts voter participation could grow by as much as 12 percent if Yee’s bill becomes law.

Nine other states and the District of Columbia already allow voters to register on election day. California would be the largest state with the biggest population to implement an election day registration system.

California has already set aside money to create a master list of every eligible voter. Counties would verify names using that database, known as Vote Cal, to register voters at polling sites.

(jro)

Copyright 2010, KCBS. All Rights Reserved.