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Voter Registration
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2006
The Help America Vote Act’s January 1, 2006 deadline for requiring states to adopt computerized statewide voter registration databases has now passed. Where do the states stand? The Brennan Center at NYU School of Law has produced a comprehensive status report. Compare their findings to voter registration data for the 2004 election, provided by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
As federal courts in Florida and Ohio have grappled with state laws on voter registration procedures, researchers have explored questions on the same topic. One report reveals that registration systems have not kept pace with technology, while another study explores public perceptions of the registration process.
2007
While the Senate passed on an opportunity to examine election reform issues by confirming two new EAC commissioners without a hearing, researchers continue to explore a variety of topics. On voter registration, for example, electionline.org has examined the concept of Election Day Registration, while the Brennan Center has looked at new restrictions on voter registration drives.
Though it was passed nearly fifteen years ago, the National Voter Registration Act, or "Motor Voter," still receives significant attention, particularly as the EAC is required to submit biennial reports to Congress on the law’s progress and impact. Electionline.org also continues to summarize key state legislative developments on voter registration issues.
2008
Spurred by high interest in the 2008 election, officials in states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Oregon are reporting record or near-record numbers of voters on the rolls. Recently, the integrity and operability of these lists has been the focus of both a task force of the National Academies of Sciences and a hearing by the Senate Rules Committee.
States across the country reported record numbers of new registrants during this year’s presidential primaries, and high levels of voter interest suggest this trend may continue to November’s general election. A new analysis from Election Law @ Moritz examines the challenges this may cause, while a new report from the EAC looks at the HAVA-mandated ID requirements for these first-time voters when they go to the polls.
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
www.aei.org
The Brookings Institution
www.brookings.edu
© Copyright 2006, AEI
and The Brookings Institution