Senator Amy Klobuchar

Working for the People of Minnesota

Press Contact

Joel Gross
Press Secretary
(202) 224-3244

Amy in the News

Lawmakers seek same-day registration law

May 2, 2008

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER Associated Press

http://www.kxmb.com/News/234043.asp


Democratic lawmakers from Minnesota and Wisconsin are seeking legislation that would require states to have same-day voter registration for federal elections, saying it would encourage more people to vote.

Sens. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, introduced companion bills on Thursday. Both states have same-day registration.

Ellison had introduced a similar bill last year but agreed to drop it so he could introduce the new legislation, which makes technical changes but is substantively the same.

The new legislation comes three days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can require voters to produce photo identification. Civil rights groups worry that such voter ID laws will deter poor, older and minority voters from casting ballots, while proponents say voter ID laws are needed to prevent fraud.

Ellison called voting a sacred right and a moral obligation.

"We must do everything that encourages, fosters and facilitates everyone's ability to exercise that right," he said, adding that the legislation would "help counter this deeply flawed Supreme Court ruling that disenfranchises thousands of voters from our most vulnerable communities - the poor, elderly and minority communities."

Feingold said same-day registration has worked well in Wisconsin for more than 30 years.

"By allowing people to register in person on election day, we can bring more people into the process, which only strengthens our democracy," he said.

Klobuchar made a similar observation about Minnesota's experience.

"Same-day registration works, it encourages people to be engaged and interested in the issues facing our country - this bill gives a voice to every American who wants to vote," she said.

But Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican, shot down the legislation.

"There are plenty of constitutional reasons why it's a bad idea," he said.

King said that under the concept of federalism, states are supposed to run the elections with a minimum of federal interference. And he said he worried that same-day registration would invite voter fraud. Sponsors of the bill argue that it reduces fraud because voters are actually present when they register.

"The argument is Republicans are opposed to things that make it easier to vote," King said. "No, we're opposed to things that erode the integrity of the people who are legitimate voters."

Sen. Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican, parted with King on this issue, saying he supported the legislation. But rather than pitch the bill as a counterweight to this week's Supreme Court decision, as Ellison did, Coleman said the two go hand-in-hand.

"If you combine that with the Supreme Court's ruling, which says that you can do those things to ensure that the folks who are voting are really the folks who are voting, I think that's a good thing," he said. "When you combine the two, they're good steps, that would increase turnout, but you do it in a way that lessens the possibility of fraud."

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