the case for voter registration modernization

7/29/2019 The Case for Voter Registration Modernization

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The Case forVoter Registration

Modernization

at New York University School of Law


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WHAT IS VOTER REGISTRATION MODERNIZATION?

In the wake of Election 2012, we need basic national standards to minimize long lines

at the polls and ensure that every eligible American who takes responsibility to vote isproperly registered and can cast a ballot that counts. Voter Registration Modernization isa key reform to achieve these goals.

It establishes voluntary, automated registration of all consentingcitizens when they interact with a wide range of governmentagencies.

It makes registration portable, keeping voters on the rolls even whenthey move.

It provides fail-safe procedures to ensure that eligible voters whoseinformation is not on the rolls or not up to date can correct theinformation online or at the polls.

It oers states federal funding to make necessary technologicalupgrades.

e benets are substantial:

It boosts election integrity, providing safeguards against hackingand curbing the potential for fraud.

It could help bring up to 50 million eligible voters into the politicalprocess.

It costs less than the current paper-based system.


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Introduction 2

Overview 6

I.TeProblem:AVoterRegistrationSystemPlaguedWithErrors 6

II:TeSolution:AModernSystemforAllAmericans 8

A.AutomatedRegistration

B.PortableRegistration

C.OnlineVoterRegistrationandCorrectionSystem

D.Fail-SafeRegistrationandCorrectiontotheVoterRolls

E.FederalInvestmentinVoterRegistration

III:TeBenets:ModernizedVoterSystemsWork,andWorkWell 11A.IncreasedRegistrationRates

B.AccuracyIncreases

C.StatesSaveMoney

IV:CongressCanAct 15

Endnotes 18

LearnMore 20

Table of Contents


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INTRODUCTION


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2 BRENNANCENERFORJUSICE

hisnationwasfounded,intheDeclarationofIndependence,withtheproclamationthatweareallcreatedequal.CivicequalityisatthecoreoftheAmericancreed.OnElectionDay2012,theworldsgreatestdemocracyonceagainshoweditspower.

ButElectionDaywasmarred.Citizenswhotooktheresponsibilitytovotehadtostandinlinesaslongassevenhours.Forfartoomanyvoters,thesedelayshappenedbecause

ofproblemswiththevoterregistrationsystem.Inournationalelections,millionsofeligiblecitizensarriveatthepollseachelectiononlytondtheirnamesarenotonthe

voterrollsoften,wronglydeleted.

oday,thegreatestbarriertofree,fair,andaccessibleelectionsisourramshacklevoter

registrationsystem.Tecurrentsystemisbasedonablizzardofpaperrecords.Rife

witherrors,it causesdisenfranchisement,confusion, bloatedrolls,andlong lineson

ElectionDay.ItisunacceptableforAmericatorelyonanoutdatedsystemthatprevents

millionsofeligiblevotersfromcastingaballotthatcounts.

Te United States needs a new paradigm for how we register voters. Fortunately, a

nonpartisan,common-sensesolutioniswithinourgrasp:Congressshouldenactbasic

nationalstandardstoensurethateverycitizenwhotakesresponsibilitytoregisterand

votecanactuallyvote.VoterRegistrationModernization(VRM),attheheartofsuch

reforms,wouldhelpgiveAmericanstheelectionsystemtheydeserve.

VoterRegistrationModernizationrequiresthegovernmenttotakeresponsibilityfor

ensuringthateveryeligiblevotercanbecomeandstayaregisteredvoter,usingdigital

technologytopassnamesofconsentingcitizensfromstateagenciestoelectionocials.

Citizenswouldalsohavethechoicetoregisterorupdatetheirregistrationonlineorat

thepolls.

VRMwouldcostless,becausecomputerizedrecordsarefareasiertokeepthantodays

chaoticpilesofpaper.Andbyincreasingtheaccuracyofourrolls,itwouldalsocurbthepotentialforfraud.VRMprovidesexibleandsecureoptionsforvotersfromall

walksoflifetogetandstayregistered:atgovernmentagencies,bymail,oronline.And

itdoessoinawaythatlargelyeliminatestheerrors,frustrations,shenanigans,and

bureaucraticsnafusthatplaguethecurrentsystem.

Upto50millioneligibleAmericancitizenswouldbeaddedtotherolls

permanently.

Stateswouldsavemoneyonelectionadministration.

Teaccuracyofourvoterrollswouldbeincreased,curbingopportunitiesforfraud.


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3HECASEFORVOERREGISRAIONMODERNIZAION

Our election system should oer the convenience, exibility, and security that

Americansdemandfromtheirbanksandtheirretirementaccounts. EveryAmerican

citizen whether retiredinruralAmerica, living inahigh-tech city, studyingon

campus,orstationedinAfghanistanshouldhaveafairandequalopportunitytoget,andstay,registeredtovote.Whenyoumove,yourregistrationshouldmovewith

you.Ifyoureaneligiblevoteryoushouldbearegisteredvoterperiod.

VoterRegistrationModernizationoersacommon-sense,non-partisanopportunity

to increase both civic participation and election integrity. It embodies the best of

American values: choice, freedom, opportunity, and mutual responsibility. Citizens

musttaketheresponsibilitytovote,butgovernmentshoulddoitspartbyclearing

bureaucratic obstacles to the ballot box. Voter Registration Modernization would

vastlyimproveAmericandemocracy.


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OVERVIEW


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OurvoterregistrationsystemhasnotkeptpacewithmodernAmerica.Stillbasedlargelyonpaper,thesystemisplaguedwitherrors.Teseerrorscreateneedlessbarrierstovoting,frustration,andlonglinesatthepolls.Teyalsogiverisetofears

aboutthesystemssecurity.AccordingtothePewCenteronStates:

Oneinfoureligiblecitizensisnotregisteredtovote.

OneineightregistrationsintheUnitedStatesisinvalidorsignicantly

inaccurate.

OneinfourvoterswronglybelievetheirregistrationisautomaticallyupdatedwhentheychangetheiraddresswiththePostalService. 1

Tevoterregistrationsystem isthe largest singleobstacleto full participationin

Americandemocracy.A2001taskforcechairedbyformerPresidentsJimmyCarter

andGeraldFordconcluded,TeregistrationlawsinforcethroughouttheUnited

Statesareamongtheworldsmostdemanding[andare]onereasonwhyvoter

turnoutintheUnitedStatesisnearthebottomofthedevelopedworld.2American

votersfallo,orarepushedo,therolls.Teyfailtomeetthespecicrulesordeadlines of their particular state. And they drift further away from electoral

participation.

Tescaleoftheproblemisenormous.Morethan50millionAmericansabout

oneinfoureligiblecitizensarenotregistered. Whilesomechoosenotto,many

moretryandfailordropotherolls.In2008,accordingtoHarvardpolitical

scientist Stephen Ansolabehere, up to 3 million voters who thought they wereregisteredshoweduptothepolls,onlytobeturnedawayortoldtheirvoteswould

notcountbecauseofregistrationproblems. 3

Te current system fails to reect our modern and mobile society. One in six

Americans moves every year. Because their registrations do not move with them,

votersriskfallingotherollsafterachangeofaddress,evenwithinstatelines.A

studybyHarvardsTomasPattersonnotedafullone-thirdofunregisteredvoters

werethosewhohadmovedandhadntre-registered.4Yet,evenifeveryoneofthose

voters changed their address with another government agency, that information

neverltersthroughtotheregistrationle.

I. The Problem: A Voter Registration System Plagued

With Errors


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Telackofportabilitydoesntjustharmvoters.Italsocreatesduplicateregistrations

onourrolls,withopportunitiesforfraudanderror.Placingtheburdenofregistering

and re-registering on individual citizens makes it harder to keep lists accurate.

Electionexpertsandobserversofallpoliticalstripesnotethatvoterrollerrorsleadto confusion, delays at the polls, and wrongful exclusion of eligible citizens on

Election Day. Others worry that bloated, outdated lists create the potential for

fraudandmanipulation.Teinabilityofthispaper-basedprocesstokeepupwith

votersastheymoveordie,thePewCenterfound,canleadtoproblemswiththe

rolls,includingtheperception that they lack integrityorcouldbe susceptible to

fraud.5Forexample,Pewfoundthattherewereapproximately2.75millionpeople

whohaveregistrationsinmorethanonestate.

And the costs of maintaining this antiquated system are substantial. Election

administrators must process each paper form manually. Te volume is massive:

Between2006and2008,statesreceivedmorethan60millionregistrationforms,

mostonpaper.

According to a Pew study,Oregon alone spent nearly $9 million on paper-based

registration in 2008, which translates to $7.67 per registration and $4.11 per

registeredvoter.6Werethesecostsextrapolatednationwide,theUnitedStatesmay

havespentaround$700millionon174millionactivevoterregistrationrecords.Atatimewhenstatesfacenancialcrises,weshouldnotbespending12timeswhat

Canadaspendspervoteronregistrationgettingfarinferiorresults.

Voterregistrationin21stcenturyAmericaisa19thcenturyrelic.Atatimewhen

smartphonesandonlinebankingarecommonplace,apaper-basedsystemjustdoes

notmakesenseforvoters,andcreatesheadachesforelectionocials.Perhapsno

othergovernmentsystemissoantiquated,sobureaucratic,andsorifewitherror.

Fortunately,thereisabetterway.


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ostrengthenvotingandmodernizeregistration,weneedafundamentalchange:

More responsibility for voterregistration must beshared bythe government. Itshould bethe obligation ofthe government toensure that all eligibleAmericans are

registeredandabletocastavoteonElectionDayiftheytaketheresponsibilitytodo

so.Tiswouldbevastlybenecialforvotersandelectionocialsalike.Registrationand

participationrateswillrise,andtherollswillbemoreaccurate.

HereswhatVoterRegistrationModernizationlookslike:

It establishes voluntary, automated registration o all consenting citizens

whentheyinteractwithawiderangeogovernmentagencies. Itmakesregistrationportable,keepingvotersontherollsevenwhentheymove.

Itprovidesail-saeprocedurestoensurethateligiblevoterswhoseinormationisnotontherollsornotuptodatecancorrecttheinormationonlineoratthepolls.

Itofersstatesederalundingtomakenecessarytechnologicalupgrades.

Tebenetsaresubstantial:

Itboostselectionintegrity,providingsaeguardsagainsthackingandcurbingthepotentialorraud.

Itcouldhelpbringupto50millioneligiblevotersintothepoliticalprocess.

Itcostslessthanthecurrentpaper-basedsystem.

Forvoters,theprocesswouldbeseamless.Insteadofthesystemactingasanobstacle,

thegovernmentwouldseizeeveryopportunitytoensurethatconsentingcitizens

areregisteredwhenevertheyinteractwithgovernment.Tegoalistoachievefuller

participationinourdemocracyandanaccuratesystemthatiseasiertoadminister.

A.AutomatedRegistration

Terststeptoamodernsystemisprovidingforautomated,electronicregistration

inthestates.Afederalbillshouldcreateasysteminwhichallcitizenswillbeoered

theopportunitytoupdatetheirvoterinformationwhenevertheyvisittheocesof

stateorfederalgovernmentagencies.Whenaneligiblevotergivesinformation

forexample,togetadriverslicense,receiveSocialSecuritybenets,applyforpublic

services,registerforclasses,orbecomeanaturalizedcitizenthetransactionwilloereachindividualthechoicetoprovidethisinformationforregistrationpurposes.

Noseparateprocessorpaperformisrequired.Onceavoterconrmssheisaneligible

II: The Solution: A Modern System for All Americans


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citizen,andwishestoberegistered,alltheinformationalreadygiventotheagency

willdoubleasavoterregistrationupdate.Underthisnewsystem,registrationisstill

entirelyvoluntarynocitizenwillbeaddedtotherollswithoutherconsent.Local

electionocialswillcontinuetopoliceapplicationsforeligibilityanderror noonewillberegisteredifalocalelectionocialdeterminessheisineligible.

Once a voter consents, the necessary information would then be securely and

condentiallytransmittedtoelectionocialstoaddtothestatewidevoterdatabase.

Electionocialswouldsendeligiblecitizensanoticethattheirregistrationhasbeen

accepted,providingareceiptandconrmationforanyelectronictransaction.Under

thissystem,everyAmericanwhowouldliketoberegisteredwillhavetheopportunity

todoso,everyvoterwhothinksshehasregisteredwillactuallybecomeregistered,

andeveryvoterwillbeabletocountonregistrationrecordsthatareaccurateand

error-free.

B.PortableRegistration

Te second component of Voter Registration Modernization really brings the

systemintothemodernage:portability.Onceavoterisontherolls,shewouldbe

permanentlyregistered.Everytimeshemoves,herregistrationwouldmovewithher.

Aswith automatedregistration, any time aconsentingcitizen changes her addresswith abroad set of government agencies, such as state DMVs, the Social Security

Administration,orthePostOce,thatinformationwouldbeupdatedinavoterle.

Aswithanynewregistration,thisupdateisentirelyvoluntary,andthesystemwould

generateanoticetothevoterofanychange.

Inthisdayandage,wehavethetechnologytoensurethatnovoterlosestherightto

votejustbecauseshemoves.Onceacitizenisregistered,shestaysregistered.Andwe

canallbecondentinvoterrollsthatarefarmoreaccurateanduptodate.

C.OnlineVoterRegistrationandCorrectionSystem

Amodernelectionsystemoerseverycitizenthechoicetoregisterandmakeupdates

online.Federallawshouldrequireeachstatetocreateasecureandaccessibleonline

portalthateveryeligiblevotercanaccess.Ifthevoterisnotyetregistered,theonline

systemwouldpromptallinformationneededtocompletearegistration,justasvoters

currentlydoonpaper.Iftheonlinesystemndsamatch,thesystemwouldprompt

thevotertoenteranyaddresschange,correction,ormissinginformation,suchaspartyaliation.Registeredvoterscouldalsousetheportaltoviewtheirrecordsand


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polling locations, making it a full-service, one-stop shop for everything a citizen

needstocastaballotthatcounts.

Voters deserve convenience, exibility, and choice. Consumers routinely shop,bank,changetheiraddress,andrenewlicensesonline.Andweregularlyuseonline

systemstoensureourinformationisaccurateanduptodate.Americansshould

demandnolessforthefundamentalrighttovote.

D.Fail-SafeRegistrationandCorrectiontotheVoterRolls

Evenunderthebestandmostmodernlist-buildingsystem,someerrorsarebound

tohappen,andsomevoterswillfallthroughthecracks.Anymodernregistration

systemmustincludefail-safeprocedurestoensurethateligiblecitizenscancorrect

mistakesontheirvoterrecordsatthepolls.Onehighlysuccessfuloptionissame-

day registration, which would allow every eligible voter to register and vote on

ElectionDayandduringearlyvoting.Tisensuresthatvotersdonotbearthebrunt

ofgovernmentmistakes,andithassignicantlyboostedturnoutineverystatethat

hasadoptedit.WithVoterRegistrationModernization,thisfail-safewouldrarely

beused,becausetherollswouldbefarmorecompleteandaccuratethantoday.

NoeligibleAmericanshouldlosetherighttovotebecauseoferrorsoromissionsontherolls.Tesefail-safesprovideacorrectivetoproblemswiththeregistration

systemandensurethatcitizenswhotaketheresponsibilitytovotecandoso.

E.FederalInvestmentinVoterRegistration

Voter Registration Modernization requires a national mandate to ensure basic

nationalstandardsforourregistrationsystemandtoprotecteveryAmericansright

tovote.Congressshouldprovidesucientnationalresourcestohelpstatescompletethetransitiontoamodernsystem.Muchoftheworkisalreadydone:Withfederal

support,allstatesnowhave(orwillsoonhave)theprimarytechnologicalbuilding

blockofamodernsystemacomputerizedvoterregistrationdatabase.Federal

support for modernization should cover all elements of the reform, including

upgrades for automated and portable registration, a full-service online voter

portal,andfail-safeproceduresatthepollingplace.Anditshouldcoverongoing

maintenanceandsupportfornewtechnologies.

A small investment of resources will yield ongoing savings to the states that willoutstripthecostsinaveryshorttime.Rarelyaresuchdramaticbenetsavailable

fromsuchamodestinvestmentinourdemocracy.


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ElementsofVoterRegistrationModernizationarealreadyinplacethroughoutthenation.Teyhaveproduceddramaticbenetsforvoters,electionocials,andthesystemitself.

wenty-two states have already automated the transmission of voter registrations

atstateDMVs.Inmanyofthesestates,theentireprocessispaperless,sothatall

informationelectionocialsneedistransmittedelectronicallyanduploadedinto

theirdatabases,savingpersonnelcostsandpreventinghumanerror.Eightstateshave

systemsofportableregistrationthatallowvoterswhomovetocastvalidballotseven

if they do not update their records before Election Day. enstates haveenacted

lawsprovidingforElectionDayregistration,allowingeligiblecitizenstoregisteror

updatetheirrecordsonElectionDay.Sixteenstatesnowoeronlineregistration

orwillsoondoso.Andmoststates(34)allowcitizenstoaccesstheirregistration

informationonline.

Combined,thesestatesaccountforthevastmajorityoftheU.S.population.Tese

systemsalreadyservemorethanhalfofthecountryregisteringbothRepublicansandDemocrats,andservingvoterslivinginurbanandruralareasalike.Othermajor

democraciesalsoprovideencouragingexamplesofwhathappenswhengovernment

assumes the responsibility of getting and keeping citizens on the rolls. Canada,

which shares our decentralized federal system, provides the most relevant analog:

93 percent of eligible citizens are registered to vote, compared to 68 percent of

Americansas of the last Census report. GreatBritain,France, Australia,and other

democraciesalsoenlistthegovernmenttoensurethateligiblecitizensareregistered.

Voter Registration Modernization works. Here are examples of the benets of

modernizationinpractice.

A.IncreasedRegistrationRates

VRMcouldaddmillionsofeligibleAmericanstotherolls.Existingmodelsinthestates

demonstratethateachelementofVRMautomatedandportableregistration,same-day

registration,andonlineaccessincreasesregistrationrates.

III: The Benets: Modernized Voter Systems Work,

and Work Well


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Automatingthetransferofdigitalvoterdataatgovernmentagenciesatleastdoubles

registration rates at those agencies. For example, Kansas and Washington began

automatically sending information from the DMV to election ocials in 2008.

Withina year,DMVregistrationsnearly doubled.RhodeIslandandSouthDakotaproducedevenmoredramaticresults.TeOceanStateautomateditssysteminAugust

2005.Previously,ithadaveraged906registrationspermonth.Intherstfullyearof

theautomatedsystem,registrationsjumpedtoamonthlyaverageof2,004a221

percentincrease.InSouthDakota,DMVregistrationsgrewat leastseven-foldfrom

thepre-automationyearof2003tothepost-automationyearof2008.

Making registration portable produces similar benets. Studies by political scientist

MichaelMcDonalddeterminedthatifweallowedregistrationtofollowvoterswhenthey

move,turnoutwouldincreasebyasmanyas2million. 7

ArobustVRMplanalsoincludesfullsame-dayvoter registration,whichhasmarkedly

boostedturnout.Becausesomestateshaveoeredthechoiceofsame-dayregistrationfor

nearly40years,itsbenetsareclearandwell-documented.Stateswithsame-dayregistration

haveconsistentlyseenhigherturnoutthanstateswithout:Same-dayregistrationstatesin

2004averageda12percenthigherturnoutratethannon-same-dayregistrationstates,and

7percenthigherturnoutin2008.8Italsoprovidesafail-safeforvoterswhodiscovererrors

ontheirrecordstheycansimplyre-registerandcastafullballotatthepolls.

Finally, letting citizens register online increases access and expands the electorate.

Onlineregistrationiscriticallyimportantforreaching18-24year-olds,whotypically

signupatsubstantiallylowerratesthanolderadults.Arizonabeganonlineregistration

in2002.Registrationratesfor18-24year-oldsdoubledfrom29percentto48percent

in2004,and53percentin2008.InCalifornia,whereanewonlinesystempreceded

anall-timehighvoterregistrationrateinthestate,thosewhosigneduponlinehadthe

mostdiversepartyaliationofanygroupofregistrants.

9

Increasingregistrationratesandimprovingtheaccuracyofrecordswillhelpboost

civicparticipation. Acitizenwhoisnotregisteredorwhosenamehasfalleno

thevoterrollscannotparticipateinelections. Campaignsandcommunitygroups

typically reach out to newly registered voters. Such outreach has been proven to

increase civic participation. Improving the process also protects against wrongful

disenfranchisement. We know 2 to3 million Americans triedto vote inthe 2008

presidentialelectionbutcouldnotduetoregistrationproblems.UnderVRM,every

singleoneofthosemillionsofvoterswhoshoweduptothepollswouldhavebeenabletocastaballotthatcounts.


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B.AccuracyIncreases

VoterRegistrationModernizationmakesvoterrollsmoreaccurateandcurrent.Digital

systemsvastlyimproveontheramshacklepaperprocessthathascreated24millionawedregistrations.

Tebenetshappenfortwokeyreasons.First,automatedprocessesleavelessroomfor

humanerrorwhetherduetobadhandwriting,themishandlingofpaperforms,or

manualdataentry.Second,withvotersconstantlysendingmorereal-timeinformation

andaddresschangestothesystem,outdatedorduplicateregistrationrecordscanbe

foundandeliminated.

Stateocialsfoundthattheaccuracyoftheirrollshasgoneupsignicantlysince

taking stepsto modernize. In2009,ocials inMaricopa County, Arizona,took a

surveyof incompleteorincorrectregistrationforms.Eventhoughonly15.5percent

ofregistrationwasdonethroughpaperforms,morethanhalfofthosecontaining

incomplete,inaccurate,orillegibleinformationwerepaperforms.Tismeansthat

paperregistrationsareve timesmorelikelytohaveerrorsthanelectronicles.CraigStender,whoformerlyworkedintheArizonaSecretaryofStatesoceoninformation

technology,saidthat,asaresultofautomation,hisocereceivedfar,farfewercalls

in2008thanithadinpreviouspresidentialelectionyears.Everystatetohavetakenkeystepstomodernizehasreportedbenetsforvotersandelectionprocessesalike.

Tebenetsofmoreaccuraterollsarehardtooverstate.Accuraterollshelpelection

ocials administer elections with condence, and critically, prevent unnecessary

disenfranchisementatthepolls.ChrisNelson,SouthDakotasformersecretaryofstate,

saidhebelievedautomatedDMVregistrationhelpedreducethenumberofprovisional

ballotscast.Additionally,ocialsreportthatautomationhasreducedthenumberof

peoplewhoshowuponElectionDaytondtheirnamesarenotontherolls.

Finally,increasingaccuracymeansdecreasingopportunitiesforfraudinourelection

system.Withvoterrollsconstantlyupdatedbypublicagencies,thereisnoneedfor

partisan election ocials to undertake controversial purges. Further, getting rid of

bloatedvoterliststhatmaycontaindeceasedorineligibleindividualswillcurbfearsof

thepotentialforelectionfraud.

C.StatesSaveMoney

Modernizingalsocutscosts.Electionocialssayittakeshalfthetimeorlesstoprocess

electronicformsinsteadofpaper.Inaddition,digitalregistrationsavesonprintingand


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mailingcosts,andallowselectionocialstoautomatevotervericationprocesseslike

addressconrmation.Real-timeupdatesfromvotersalsoallowelectionsocialsto

createandreviewrecordsonaregulartimetableinstarkcontrasttothetidalwave

ofpaperformsthatisnowcommonplaceintheweeksbeforeanelection.Allofthesebenetsleadtomoresensibleelectionadministration,reducedpersonnelcosts,and

savingsonprinting,mailing,andlostpaper.

Maricopa County, Arizonas modernized registration system, which includes fully-

automatedtransmissionofvoterregistrationatitsDMVs,hasproducedsignicant

costsavings.Tecounty,withapopulationlargerthan23states,spendsonly3centsto

processanelectronicregistration,comparedwith83centsforapaperform.Tecounty

estimatesitsavedmorethan$450,000inregistrationcostsin2008alone.Otherstates

areseeingsimilarsavingsimmediately.Delawaresavedmorethan$200,000inthe

rstyearitfullyautomatedDMVregistration.WashingtonsStateBoardofElections

savedmorethan$126,000in2008alone,anditscountiessavedevenmore.

Start-upcostsarerelativelysmall.Ittypicallytakesastateoneyeartoimplementa

paperless system. It cost Arizona $130,000. Washington, which has an unusually

decentralized voter database, spent a total of $279,000, including all costs at the

county-level.Oregonspent$200,000foronlineregistrationthesameamountit

formerlyspentinoneelectioncycletoprintpaperforms.Tesearecoststhatcanandshouldbeosetbymodestgrantsfromthefederalgovernment.

EachelementofVoterRegistrationModernizationalreadyhasbeguntoworkformore

thanhalfofthecountry.VRMincreasesregistrationrates,cutscosts,andincreases

accuracy.Itistimeforthegovernmenttotaketheresponsibilitytoimplementafair,

cost-saving,andaccuratesystemthatbenetsallAmericanvoters.


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hegoodnewsisthatCongressalreadyhasaclearpathforwardtoVoterRegistration

Modernization.VRMisthecorepolicyreformoftheVoterEmpowermentAct,introducedbyReps.JohnLewis(D-Ga.),JamesClyburn(D-S.C.),andStenyHoyer(D-

Md.)intheHouse,andSen.KirstenGillibrand(D-N.Y.)intheSenate.Telegislationis

acomprehensiveapproachtobringingthevotersystemintothe21stcentury.

Statesthathavemodernizedtheirsystemsinthepastdecadedidsowithbipartisan

andnon-partisansupport,andpoliticiansofallstripeshavesungitspraises.Congress

shouldfollowinthesefootstepsandactnowtooeralleligibleAmericanvoters

theelectionsystemtheydeserve.TeVoterEmpowermentActoersacommon-sense

opportunity to improve our elections, increasing both voter participation and the

integrityofourelectionsystem.

IV: Congress Can Act


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ENDNOTES


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1PCS,I,CI:E

A V R S N U 7 (2012),

available at http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/

Election_reform/Pew_Upgrading_Voter_Registration.pdf.2N C E R, F F

ES,APCEP

3(2001),available athttp://election2000.stanford.edu/task.force.report.8.2001.pdf.3Stephen Ansolabehere, estimony before the U.S. Senate Rules Committee

(March11,2009),available athttp://vote.caltech.edu/sites/default/les/03112009Ansolabehere_estimony.pdf.

4P,VV:PIA

U178(2002).

5I,CI,supranote1,at3.6PCS,RCVR:AO

C S 1 (2010), available at http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/

wwwpewtrustsorg/Re ports/Election_reform/he_Real_Cost_of_Vot er_Registration.pdf?n=9257.

7Michael P. McDonald, Portable Voter Registration, 20 P B 499

(2008).

8D,VWSDR(2010),available at http://

www.demos.org/sites/default/les/publications/VotersWinSDR_2010_Demos.pdf.9UCDCCEP,CE:

IYOVR(2012),available athttp://regionalchange.ucdavis.edu/projects/ccep-policy-briefs/UCDavis_CCEP_Brief_-3_

Youth_Online_Voter_Reg_Final_Dec_26.pdf.


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LEARN MORE


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20 BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please contact these experts at the Brennan Center for Justice:

Wendy Weiser

Lawrence Norden

Nicole Austin-Hillery

Myrna Prez

Lee Rowland

Jonathan Brater

booklet was written by PoyWinichakul, Lee Rowland,WendyWeiser,

Jonathan

Brater, and Jim Lyons. Special thanks to Jeanine Plant-Chirlin, Lucy

Zhou, Erik Opsal, and Kimberly Lubrano for their edits and input.

LEARN MORE ABOUT

VOTER REGISTRATION MODERNIZATION

To learn more about Voter Registration Modernization, please visit the BrennanCenters website: www.brennancenter.org.

Please learn more in these publications:

Voter Registration in a Digital Age(7/10)

report is the in-depth survey of these registration innovations automated

voter registration, in which government like DMVs collect and transfer voter

registrations electronically, and online voter registration, in which citizens submit

voter registration applications over the Internet. Based on documentary research and

interviews with election in 15 states, this report explains how paperless voter

registration works, reviews its development, and assesses its impact.

Available at: http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/voter_registration_in_a_digital_age/

Michael Waldman


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ExpandingDemocracy:VoterRegistrationAroundtheWorldBy Jennifer Rosenberg with Margaret Chen (6/09)

TisreportexaminesvoterregistrationsystemsinCanadaanditsprovinces,France,GreatBritain,Argentina,Australia,Mexico,andothernations.Inall,itexamineshow

16countriescreateandkeepvoterlists.Manyofthenationsstudiedaresimilartoours

indiversepopulations,culturalvalues,andgovernmentstructures.Teirexperiences

showtheclearbenetstovoters,overalltaxpayersavings,andbestpracticesthatcanbe

employedintheUnitedStatesasCongressdraftsreformlegislation(andsomepitfalls)

ofconcertedreform.

Availableat:http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/expanding_democracy_voter_registration_around_the_world/

VoterRegistrationModernization:CollectedReportsandPapersBy Wendy Weiser(10/09)

Tiscompendiumpresentsasamplingof10oftheBrennanCentersrecentpublications,

whichcontributeintellectualballastto thebipartisanmovementtomodernizevoter

registration. Te papers expose problems and oer solutions, identify real-world

models,andoertangiblenextstepstoimproveourregistrationsystemforbothvoters

andelectionocials.

VoterRegistrationModernizationBy Wendy Weiser, Michael Waldman & Renee Paradis(01/09)

TisoriginalproposalsetoutthecontoursofVoterRegistrationModernization.

Availableat:http://brennan.3cdn.net/b75f13413388b2fccc_ynm6bn1l2.pdf


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VotingLawChanges:Election2012UpdateBy Wendy Weiser and Diana Kasdan (10/12)

Tedramatic national eort to restrict Americans voting rights was met this yearwithanequallydramaticpushbackbycourts,citizens,theDepartmentofJustice,and

farsightedpublicocials.WhatdoesasurveyofthelandscapeoneweekbeforeElection

Day2012nowshow?Strikingly,nearlyalltheworstnewlawstocutbackonvoting

havebeenblocked,blunted,repealed,orpostponed.Lawsin14stateswerereversedor

weakened.Asaresult,newrestrictionswillaectfarfewerthanthe5millioncitizens

wepredictedlastyear.Fortheoverwhelmingmajorityofthosewhoserightsweremost

atrisk,theabilitytovotewillnotbeatissueonNovember6th.

Available at: http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/voting_law_changes_

election_update/

ReturntoCommonSense:SevenBoldWaystoRevitalizeDemocracyBy Michael Waldman (Sourcebooks: 2008)

Tis Brennan Center book rst launched the discussion of modernizing voter

registration.DorisKearnsGoodwincalledthebookacalltoarms,whicheveryone

whocaresaboutourdemocraticsystemshouldread,absorb,debate,andthenuseas

asignpostforchange.JonathanAlterwrote,WithTomasPainesgiftforbrilliant

brevity,MichaelWaldmantellsusexactlywhatswrongwithourdemocracyandexactly

howtoxitinthetimeittakestowatchamovie.

Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Return-Common-Sense-Revitalize-ebook/

dp/B0024CEZSK

BRENNAN CENTER VOTING NEWSLETTER

Latestdevelopments,stateupdates,newresearch,andmediaroundup.

Availableat:www.brennancenter.org


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THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE

e Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law is a non-partisan

public policy and law institute that focuses on the fundamental issues of democracyand justice. Our work ranges from voting rights to campaign nance reform, fromracial justice in criminal law to Constitutional protection in the ght against terrorism.A singular institution part think tank, part public interest law rm, part advocacygroup the Brennan Center combines scholarship, legislative and legal advocacy, andcommunications to win meaningful, measurable change in the public sector.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

e Brennan Center gratefully acknowledges the Democracy Alliance Partners,Educational Foundation of America, e Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable Trust,Ford Foundation, Anne Gumowitz, Irving Harris Foundation, e Joyce Foundation,e JPB Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Mertz GilmoreFoundation, Open Society Foundations, Rockefeller Family Fund, Bernard and AnneSpitzer, the State Infrastructure Fund, the Lawson Valentine Foundation, Vital ProjectsFund, the William B. Wiener Jr. Foundation, and Nancy Meyer and Marc Weiss for their

generous support of our voting work.

STAY CONNECTED TO THE BRENNAN CENTERSign up for our electronic newsletters at www.brennancenter.org/signupLatest News | Up-to-the-minute info on our work, publications, events, and more.

Voting Newsletter | Latest developments, state updates, new research, and media roundup.Justice Update | Snapshot of our justice work and latest developments in the eld.

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2013. Tis paper is covered by the Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivs-NonCommercial license (see http://creativecommons.org). It may be reproduced in its entirety as long as the Brennan Center is credited, a link to the Centersweb page is provided, and no charge is imposed. Te paper may not be reproduced in part or in altered form, or if a fee ischarged, without the Centers permission. Please let the Brennan Center know if you reprint.


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161 Avenue of the Americas

at New York University School of Law

the case for voter registration modernization

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