After more than five hours of debate, the state House of Representatives voted Monday night for the controversial Election Day voter registration bill that has a long history in the state legislature. By a vote of 83-59, the House voted allow the same-day registration, despite complaints by opponents about potential fraud. Nine conservative Democrats broke with their party and voted against the bill. Only one Republican, Livvy Floren of Greenwich, voted in favor. Lawmakers have been clashing for more than a decade as the issue has been blocked by a veto by then-Gov. John G. Rowland in 2003 and a federal court ruling in 2005 in Connecticut that rejected same-day registration.
… The debate started shortly before 6 p.m. Monday in the historic Hall of the House. The bill now goes to the Senate. If passed there, the registration would not take place until the November 2013 local elections — and would not be effective for the 2012 presidential election. Currently, 10 states have same-day voter registration, including Maine and New Hampshire. State Rep. Russ Morin of Wethersfield said the registration “increases voter participation — not tremendously, but it does.”
Currently, 10 states have same-day voter registration, including Maine and New Hampshire. State Rep. Russ Morin of Wethersfield said the registration “increases voter participation — not tremendously, but it does.” Like other Democrats, Morin discounted the potential for increased voter fraud, saying that voters need to swear who they are when they register. “We have not had a voter impersonation issue in the state” in many years, Morin said, adding that voters could face federal prison terms of five years for a Class D felony and fines if they impersonate someone else.
Full Article: House Debates Controversial Same-Day Voter Registration – Hartford Courant.