Election Day Registration

We have analyzed the likely impact on voter turnout should North Carolina adopt same day registration. Under the system proposed in North Carolina, eligible voters who miss the 25 day registration deadline may take advantage of same day registration during a period that lasts 19 days to three days prior to the election. During this time, voters may go to designated locations, and with the appropriate documentation, both register and vote.

We have analyzed the likely impact of adoption of election day registration (EDR) by the state of Iowa. Consistent with existing research on the impact of EDR in other circumstances, we find that EDR would likely lead to substantial increases in voter turnout. We are able to offer the following estimates of increases in turnout for Iowa, and for specific groups of Iowans under EDR:

• Overall turnout could go up by 4.9 percent.
• Turnout among those aged 18 to 25 could increase by 10.7 percent under EDR.

As policy makers, election officials, and the public consider whether New York should change the way in which voters are allowed to register to participate in elections, and bring New York State election law into compliance with the Help America Vote Act, we provide an analysis of the potential impact of election dar registration (EDR) in New York. The current system of registration is one in which citizens must register 25 days before election day in order to be eligible to vote. Under EDR this advance registration barrier would be eliminated as citizens could register on election day.

Election day registration will produce higher voter participation in California.

• States that have adopted EDR have witnessed a 3 to 6 percentage point increase in participation among the voting-age population.
• Voting among young people and those who have moved in the last six months in nearly 15 percentage points higher in states with EDR.
• California might experience an even larger increase in turnout--perhaps as much as 9 percentage points--because California has a younger and more mobile population