Same-Day Voter Registration

Last updated May 15, 2013

Nine states plus the District of Columbia presently offer same-day registration (SDR), allowing any qualified resident of the state to go to the polls or an election official's office on Election Day, register that day, and then vote. Another two states--California and Connecticut--have enacted same-day registration but have not yet implemented it. Two others allow voters to register and cast a vote during the early voting period. In most other states, voters must register by a deadline prior to Election Day. The deadline varies by state, with most falling between 10 and 30 days before the election.
 

*California's same-day registration will take effect on January 1 of the year following the year in which the Secretary of State certifies that the state has a statewide voter registration database that complies with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (no sooner than January 2014).
**Connecticut's same-day registration takes effect July 1, 2013.

 
Since 2007, North Carolina has allowed voters to register and vote on the same day at early voting locations that are open from 19 days before the election to 3 days before the election. Other states, such as Ohio, offer similar opportunities to register during the early voting period and cast an absentee ballot. These states do not permit same-day registration on Election Day, however. Beginning January 1, 2016, Maryland will also allow voters to register and vote on the same day during the early voting period, but not Election Day itself.
 

How SDR Works

• Proof of residency is a key requirement in all states that offer same-day registration. In a traditional (pre-Election Day) registration, election officials have time to send a non-forwardable mailing to the prospective voter in order to verify the voter's residence before processing the registration application. Because that isn't possible with SDR, the prospective voter must present proof of residency at the time of registration. A current driver's license or ID card will suffice in all states. In some states, documents such as a paycheck or utility bill with an address is acceptable for proving residence. A few states also permit an already-registered voter to vouch for the residency of an Election Day registrant.
• Voter ID:  All of the SDR states also require that voters who register and vote on Election Day present documentation to verify their identity. Some states require a photo ID; others accept IDs without a photo.

Preventing Fraud

• In Iowa and New Hampshire, a non-forwardable mailing is sent to each Election Day registrant. If it is returned as undeliverable, a second notice is sent. If the second mailing is also returned as undeliverable, the case is forwarded to law enforcement for investigation of voter fraud.
• Election Day registrants in Montana who are unable to meet the voter ID requirements must vote a provisional ballot, and then must return within three days to provide proof of identity in order to have the ballot counted. Montana also sends confirmation cards to new registrants after the election, following a procedure similar to Iowa's outlined above. Wisconsin and Wyoming use similar provisional voting processes.
• In Montana, SDR is conducted only at county election officials' offices, not at polling places. In Maine, it takes place at town offices and city halls.
• In states that use electronic pollbooks with real-time access to the statewide voter database, it is possible to verify that a prospective voter has not already registered and cast a ballot at another polling site or via mail prior to allowing him/her to register and vote.
• In Minnesota, the data provided by a same-day registrant is verified with the Division of Vehicle Services and/or the Social Security Administration, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Public Safety.

Links to State-Specific Information

2013 Legislative Action

Legislation proposing the adoption of same-day registration has been introduced this year in 16 states, and two of the states that currently offer SDR are considering proposals to do away with the practice. In addition, three states -- Maryland, New Mexico and Nevada -- considered legislation this year to permit a person to register and cast a ballot on the same day during the early voting period, while North Carolina is considering doing away with this practice.

• Alabama -- HB 626
• Alaska -- HB 86 (failed)
• Arizona -- HB 2146, HB 2368 and SB 1248
• Colorado -- HB 1303 (enacted)
• Georgia -- SB 44 (failed)
• Hawaii -- HB 321 (in conference committee; will reconvene in 2014), HB 511, HB 1218, SB 854 and SB 857
• Illinois -- HB 68
• Iowa -- HF 308 (proposes that voter registration books close 11 days before the election) (passed the house 3/11/2013)
• Maryland -- HB 17, SB 279 (permits voters to register and vote on the same day during the early voting period; enacted), SB 518 and SB 519 (both failed)
• Massachusetts -- HB 579 and SB 314
• Montana -- HB 30 (proposes to repeal the existing same-day registration law) (vetoed) and SB 405 (places question on 2014 ballot, giving voters the option of repealing SDR) (adopted)
• Nevada -- AB 440 (permits voters to register and cast a ballot on the same day during the early voting period; passed the Assembly 4/23)
• New Jersey -- A 1575
• New Mexico -- SB 272 (permits voters to register and cast a ballot on the same day during the early voting period) (failed)
• New York -- A 113, A 172, A 2099, S 609, S 617 and S 1549
• North Carolina -- HB 451 (repeals provision allowing a voter to register and vote on the same day during the early voting period)
• Pennsylvania -- HB 178 and SB 364
• Tennessee -- HB 293, HB 998, SB 263 and SB 908 (adjourned; carried over to 2014 session)
• Texas -- HB 169, HB 464, SB 81 and SB 568
• Utah -- HB 91 (failed)
• Vermont -- HB 42
• Washington -- SB 5268 (adjourned; carried over to 2014 session)