Democratic lawmakers last week introduced legislation that would make Delaware the 19th state with same-day voter registration. Under the bill, Delawareans could sign up to vote and cast a ballot on the same day. “Our goal as a society should be to encourage more people to be part of the electoral process, not less,” main sponsor House Majority Whip John Viola, D-Newark, said in a statement. “Right now, we have an arbitrary deadline to register to vote of three weeks before an election. “Some people, often young people or those who just moved to the state, don’t think to register to vote until it’s right before the election, and by then it’s too late. Election Day registration has been around for decades and is proven to safely and effectively increase voter turnout, so it’s time for Delaware to take this step forward.”
House Bill 400 would allow an individual to register at his or her polling place by displaying government-issued identification, a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government document containing that person’s name and address. The same documents are currently required to register by mail.
An individual who is not registered could determine their polling place by contacting the Department of Elections.
Currently, the deadline to register is the fourth Saturday before the election. For this year’s Nov. 6 general election, that deadline is Oct. 13.
Full Article: Democrats push same-day voter registration – Delaware State News | Delaware State News.