Legum’s New Line

Delegate Kirill Reznik has introduced a state constitutional amendment in the General Assembly that would allow Marylanders to register to vote on election day. Here’s an excerpt from Reznik’s release:

The proposed amendment will give the General Assembly the power to set up a system in which a person would be able to register to vote at their polling place on Election Day after providing appropriate identification. This system, known as Election Day Registration (EDR) is in effect in nine states and is known to increase turnout and reduce provisional ballots. EDR is known to be effective in raising turnout especially among young people and minorities.

Twenty delegates, ten state senators and a variety of groups – including the Common Cause of Maryland, League of Women Voters of Maryland and DEMOS – have already come out in support of the bill.

It’s simple: same day registration means more participation. Research has found “States that allow voters to register and vote on the Election Day generally enjoy turnout rates that average 10 to 12 percentage points more than states that do not.”

Some raise concerns that same day registration increases the likelihood for fraud. Minnesota, however, has had same day registration for three decades and has never had a serious problem with voter fraud. Further, concern about fraud due to same day registration is “especially out of date now that the Help America Vote Act has compelled each state to create computerized voter lists that can be checked in ‘real time’ for duplications and fraud.”

UPDATE: You can check out the House co-sponsors of the bill here.

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