Tar Heel News

AAUW NC

Tar Heel News

Fall 03 issue
 Front page
 Public Policy
 SAR
 AAUW NC
 Branches

Same-Day Registration Resolution Provokes Continued Discussion in AAUW NC

• Resolution - voted down at AAUW NC 2003 Convention
• Background
• Same-Day Registration - Pro
• Same-Day Registration - Con

PRO
Marjorie Megivern, Wilmington Branch Co-President

A democratic country maintains its freedoms only so long as its citizens accept their responsibilities along with their rights. Unfortunately, in a nation renowned for liberty, Americans have become increasingly dismissive of both the responsibility and the right to vote for their leaders. Voter turnouts across the country were at an all-time low in the 2000 presidential election, and tens of millions had not even registered to vote. The declining numbers of participants have been linked to age, education, income, and length of residence, so questions arise about the fairness and overall functioning of the present system.

Less than half of the North Carolina adult population participates in elections. We have been 44th among 50 states in presidential elections from 1980 through 2000.

Six states have implemented Election Day Registration (EDR): Minnesota, Maine, Wisconsin, Idaho, New Hampshire and Wyoming. Their election turnout rate has climbed to 61% in the past two presidential elections, compared with 51% for the national average and 46% for North Carolina.

A bill to establish EDR has been introduced in the N.C. General Assembly and is now in committee. If passed, it could increase our voter turnout immeasurably. Qualified, unregistered persons appearing at the polls on election day can take that step as they vote. This can help recent arrivals to voting precincts who may be unaware of registration deadlines, those whose jobs and family responsibilities prevent their making registration a priority, people who erroneously believe they're registered, and the large number of adults who become interested in the elections in the final weeks, after the registration deadline.

Our state has this new opportunity to involve additional tens of thousands of its residents in America's most valuable act of citizenship, including our young people, ages 18-34, who make up the largest group of potential voters.