Gov. Richardson Announces Support for Election Day Voter Registration

Excellent news from Governor Bill Richardson, who yesterday announced his support for Election Day voter registration in New Mexico. Voters' rights groups made a presentation on the issue yesterday to lawmakers on the Courts, Corrections & Justice interim committee. Regina M. Eaton, Deputy Director, Democracy Project, Demos, and Stephen Fettig, United Voters of New Mexico, spoke to the committee.

"We need to make sure that everyone who is eligible to vote, has the best opportunity to vote," Governor Richardson said. "New Mexico has seen great success -- in both increased voter confidence and participation -- with those election reforms we've already enacted, particularly paper ballots. Election Day registration will further strengthen voting in New Mexico by making it easier and more accessible to our citizens."

Nine states already allow some form of Election Day registration: Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Eligible citizens who are not found on the voting lists are asked to show a valid ID to a poll worker, who checks their ID, consults the registration list, and, if they are not registered, registers them on the spot. Studies, and actual results from those states, show that it increases turnout, particularly among younger voters, newer residents and working citizens. Same-day voter registration also decreases the use of third-party registrars to register voters, and cuts way down on the need for provisional ballots.