April 30, 2012

HOUSE PASSES ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION
AFTER MORE THAN FIVE HOUR DEBATE

by Hugh McQuaid, CT News Junkie

In a 83-59 vote, the House passed a bill Monday night allowing for citizens to register to vote and cast a ballot on Election Day.

Hugh McQuaid Photo
Rep. Russ Morin answers questions from Rep. Tony Hwang.

Rep. Russ Morin, co-chairman of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, said the goal of the bill is to give more people a chance to vote.

“I think it’s a good thing. If you’re a United States citizen and you’re 18 years old, you have the right to vote and this is going to allow more people to have that opportunity,” he said.

Morin said there are currently 10 states that allow same day registration. According to an Office of Legislative Research report, before 2011, eight states had laws allowing people to register to vote on Election Day. One of them, Ohio, removed the law from statute that year.

Under Connecticut’s bill, the secretary of the state would be required to set up an online system for new voter applications that could cross reference the verifying information provided by the applicant with state and federal databases. The goal is to ensure the person applying to vote isn’t already registered somewhere else.