Press Release – June 10, 2015
Delaware Senate Majority Caucus
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Jesse Chadderdon (302) 744-4282 or (302) 743-0945;
Patrick Jackson (302) 744-4046 or (302) 242-0036
Delaware Senate Majority Caucus
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Jesse Chadderdon (302) 744-4282 or (302) 743-0945;
Patrick Jackson (302) 744-4046 or (302) 242-0036
Henry, good government groups call for action on same-day registration bill
DOVER – Legislation was unveiled Wednesday that would allow Delawareans to register to vote and then cast a ballot as part of a single process on Election Day.
Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry and representatives of several good government groups explained the benefits of same-day registration at a Wednesday press conference at Legislative Hall.
“At last year’s midterm election and in other off-year elections, Delaware has had levels of voter participation that can only be described as shameful,” said Sen. Henry, D-Wilmington East. “I think a part of that is because many people don’t think about registering to vote until the election is upon them. We have seen in other states that same-day registration is a great way to increase participation levels in the most important of civic responsibilities – voting.”
Data shows 2014 turnout figures in states with same-day registration was as much as 12 percent higher than Delaware’s participation rate. And while a mere 36 percent of Delawareans voted last November, four states with same-day registration laws boasted record turnouts for mid-term races.
Currently, Delaware voters must be registered more than three weeks ahead of Election Day to vote.
“Our goal as a society should be to encourage more people to be part of the electoral process, not less,” said House Majority Whip John Viola, D-Newark. “Right now, we have an arbitrary deadline to register to vote weeks before an election. Let’s face it: 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.”
Letty Diswood, of the League of Women Voters, said the measure is an important means of ensuring that people can exercise their right to vote.
“The League of Women Voters believes that voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed. This bill ensures that anyone who has missed the registration deadline, no matter what the circumstances are, will be able to vote,” Diswood said. “There are far too many people whose lives are disrupted by illness, moving, foreclosures, or just too busy with long hours at work, who are left out of the process. We need to make the process as easy and seamless as possible and encourage everyone to cast a vote.”
Under Henry’s proposed Senate Bill 111, voters would have to furnish a photo ID and other proof of residency, such as a utility bill, pay stub or bank statement when they arrive at the polls to vote.
“The provisions of this bill should more than adequately safeguard us against voter fraud,” Henry said. “In fact, there have not been cases of voter fraud in states that already have this law in place.”
To give the state time to prepare for same-day registration, the bill would not take effect until Oct. 31, 2018 – in time for that year’s general election. After that, same-day registration would be available during all primary, general and special elections.
According to information from the non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures, eight states have implemented same-day registration. California and Hawaii have also enacted such laws but have yet to implement them.
Claire Snyder-Hall, Common Cause of Delaware’s program director, said her group also endorses the proposal.
“Common Cause strongly supports the Same Day Registration bill that will eliminate the voter registration deadline and allow Delawareans to register and vote at their polling place on Election Day,” she said.
In addition to eliminating the registration deadline, Henry’s bill would eliminate a requirement that ex-offenders pay all of their fines and court costs before their right to vote is reinstated. They’d still be required to serve the duration of their prison term, probation or community supervision period, before regaining the right to vote, however.
“We want to ensure that people have fully met their sentencing obligations,” Henry said. “But requiring full restitution is essentially a form of poll tax that delays and denies people a chance to have their say and we think it’s time to end that.”
Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry and representatives of several good government groups explained the benefits of same-day registration at a Wednesday press conference at Legislative Hall.
“At last year’s midterm election and in other off-year elections, Delaware has had levels of voter participation that can only be described as shameful,” said Sen. Henry, D-Wilmington East. “I think a part of that is because many people don’t think about registering to vote until the election is upon them. We have seen in other states that same-day registration is a great way to increase participation levels in the most important of civic responsibilities – voting.”
Data shows 2014 turnout figures in states with same-day registration was as much as 12 percent higher than Delaware’s participation rate. And while a mere 36 percent of Delawareans voted last November, four states with same-day registration laws boasted record turnouts for mid-term races.
Currently, Delaware voters must be registered more than three weeks ahead of Election Day to vote.
“Our goal as a society should be to encourage more people to be part of the electoral process, not less,” said House Majority Whip John Viola, D-Newark. “Right now, we have an arbitrary deadline to register to vote weeks before an election. Let’s face it: 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.”
Letty Diswood, of the League of Women Voters, said the measure is an important means of ensuring that people can exercise their right to vote.
“The League of Women Voters believes that voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed. This bill ensures that anyone who has missed the registration deadline, no matter what the circumstances are, will be able to vote,” Diswood said. “There are far too many people whose lives are disrupted by illness, moving, foreclosures, or just too busy with long hours at work, who are left out of the process. We need to make the process as easy and seamless as possible and encourage everyone to cast a vote.”
Under Henry’s proposed Senate Bill 111, voters would have to furnish a photo ID and other proof of residency, such as a utility bill, pay stub or bank statement when they arrive at the polls to vote.
“The provisions of this bill should more than adequately safeguard us against voter fraud,” Henry said. “In fact, there have not been cases of voter fraud in states that already have this law in place.”
To give the state time to prepare for same-day registration, the bill would not take effect until Oct. 31, 2018 – in time for that year’s general election. After that, same-day registration would be available during all primary, general and special elections.
According to information from the non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures, eight states have implemented same-day registration. California and Hawaii have also enacted such laws but have yet to implement them.
Claire Snyder-Hall, Common Cause of Delaware’s program director, said her group also endorses the proposal.
“Common Cause strongly supports the Same Day Registration bill that will eliminate the voter registration deadline and allow Delawareans to register and vote at their polling place on Election Day,” she said.
In addition to eliminating the registration deadline, Henry’s bill would eliminate a requirement that ex-offenders pay all of their fines and court costs before their right to vote is reinstated. They’d still be required to serve the duration of their prison term, probation or community supervision period, before regaining the right to vote, however.
“We want to ensure that people have fully met their sentencing obligations,” Henry said. “But requiring full restitution is essentially a form of poll tax that delays and denies people a chance to have their say and we think it’s time to end that.”
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Press Contacts
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov