Groups Sue Over Conn. Voter Registration

[Khephra]

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Several groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming Connecticut's deadline for voter registration is unconstitutional.

Under state law, citizens can register to vote until 14 days before Election Day. This year's deadline is Oct. 19.

State lawmakers passed a bill last year that would have allowed eligible voters to both register and cast a ballot on Election Day, but former Gov. John G. Rowland vetoed the bill. He said the legislation could open the system up to fraud.

Plaintiffs hope the state will come up with a procedure to allow same-day registration for this year's election on Nov. 2. If not, they want the federal judge to require the legislature to act, said Kele Williams of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-voter-registration-lawsuit,0,7204865.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[Radius]

1. He is Right.

Most states have some period of time so they can verify who you are. In NC it is 30 days. Has been for as long as I can remember.

Courts should not make new law, only enforce what is on the books, IMHO.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Don't need time period to verify who you are...

North Dakota: No voter registration required.

Wisconsin: Postmarked or accepted by the second Wednesday preceding election, or completed in the local voter registration office one day before the election, or completed at the polling place on election day

Maine: 10 business days before an election or delivered in person up to and including election day.


Wisconsin: Requires 2 forms of identification that verifies who the voter is and that they reside at the address they are registering on Election Day.

North Dakota: Population density and neighbors knowing their neighbors.

Maine: Most likely also requires acceptable identification.

[Radius]

4. Double edged sword

Extra time prevents backlog from last minute people. Our county board is swamped and already working overtime to process all the registration information.

Of course this works against procrastinators, like me.

In small places this is probably unnecessary, in big counties like wake, with a half million+(low ball) people or so it is necessary to ensure things run correctly. IMHO.

It should not be decided in a lawsuit weeks before the election, either way..

[LiberalFighter]

7. They can register at the polling place in Wisconsin then vote

That does not create a backlog like it would if it was at a central location.

[LisaL]

2. They are actually lucky.

In OH, it's Oct 4th.
They have two more weeks. But if they can change it so voter can register even later, more power to them!

[Scooter24]

6. It's

October 4 in Texas

[dflprincess]

5. Minnesota has election day registration

and has not had problems.

If you're not registered you have to show up at the polls with a) a driver's license of state ID card showing you're address in the precinct or b) a utility or phone bill showing your current name and address or c) a neighbor who is already registered in the precinct and will vouch that you're telling the truth. For options b and c you do need a picture ID even if it shows the incorrect address.