Same-day voter registration a cause for debate in area

BY MAITE JULLIAN FOR THE SUN CHRONICLESunday, March 2, 2008 11:15 PM EST
On Jan. 16, the deadline for voters to register for the presidential primary election, a whopping 117 people showed up at election offices in Attleboro to sign up.Some of them would have done it on the day of the election - if it was possible, said Joan Pilkington-Smyth, chairwoman of the city's election commission.

The expectation of even more crowds and long lines on Election Day has made Pilkington-Smyth leery of a proposal to allow citizens to register and vote on the same day.

"Trying to get as many people out to vote is a good thing," Pilkington-Smyth said. "But with people just showing up that day, the problem is going to be able to find out if they are not registered somewhere else.

"The Legislature's Election Law Committee endorsed a bill, filed by State Sen. Cynthia S. Creem, D-Newton, last week that would allow same-day registration in the 2008 and 2010 general elections.

Some local legislators think the state should give same-day registration a try.

"It is a good compromise because it is an opportunity to see how it works, and then decide what to do," said State Rep. Steve D'Amico, D-Seekonk, who co-sponsored the legislation.

Supporters say giving voters the opportunity to register on Election Day will increase participation and make the process even easier by eliminating the registration deadline.

But most election commissions in cities and towns are concerned about the law. Opponents question where the funding would come from and worry about potential voter fraud.

"We already have some difficulties verifying voters' information. We would need a lot more poll workers," said Pilkington-Smyth. "I would like to see an innovative idea to get people out to vote, but one that would look at the costs and process.

"Kevin Poirier, North Attleboro's election commissioner, said voter registration is simple already. Adding to the complexity on voting day, he said, would only increase long lines at the polling stations.

"I see it creating a chaotic situation at the polls," he said. "On the upcoming election, we'll probably have between 75 and 80 percent of registered voters voting. If unregistered voters are coming too, it will create one more backlog, and we really don't need that.

"Opponents in the Legislature have also raised concerns about the funding of such a measure.

"Though I appreciate any efforts that open up our election system to more voters, I have deep concerns about any proposal that is not crystal clear in addressing the costs associated with the necessary technology and the education of its operators," said Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham.

"Our election officials are already overburdened with unfunded mandates, as it is," he said.

The election division of the Secretary of State's Office is studying the legislation, and declined to estimate potential costs.

The governor's office said funds will be considered in the 2009 fiscal budget if the measure becomes law.

MassVOTE, a voting advocacy organization that co-sponsored the bill, estimates it would cost an average of $250 in each precinct, or $500,000 for the state. The figure is based on an average of $110 per poll worker, along with additional ballots.

MassVOTE Executive Director Avi Green said the costs would mainly occur the first year. As provisional ballots - used to cast a vote when there is some question regarding a voter's eligibility - are eliminated at polls, the funds they require would be shifted to same-day registration.

MassVOTE's estimate is based on how people move within the state and on other states that have same-day registration.

"To get 200,000 more voters is worth every penny," Green said.Maine, New Hampshire, Idaho, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Wyoming have passed similar laws. Green said four of those states were among the top six in voter participation during the 2004 presidential election.

But opponents, including Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, say there are no guarantees same-day registration would increase voter turn out.

"They are talking about something that we don't know," Poirier said. "I don't think it would affect participation."

Norfolk Town Clerk Gail Bernardo agrees.

"In Norfolk, people do register to vote," he said. "We have very few problems on Election Day."

D'Amico counters that the upcoming presidential election will bring out more potential voters than have been seen in decades."

Attention gets higher when we get close to an election," D'Amico said. "Then people who would like to vote find out that they can't because it's too late to register."

Opponents say people who are willing to vote will register, no matter what and argue that same-day registration will only increase voter fraud.

MassVOTE says New Hampshire has seen few incidents of fraud in its same-day registration. And Green said voter fraud is rare in Massachusetts.

Still, Poirier said there is great potential to take advantage of the system."I have a great objection that people just show up and register," she said. "Some candidates might bring their own people to polls and give them incentives to do so. There is no way to know what kind of frauds there will be, but I know it will happen."

Poirier said voters have a responsibility to stay active in the election process. If people are involved, and want to vote, she said, they will know when they have to register.

"If someone is not interested in registering to vote, I find it difficult to have empathy for that person," she said.