Voter Registration

This NYT editorial points out that “one reason the United States has a low voter-participation rate is that most states are using 19th-century registration methods in the 21st century.”

“Almost 200 high school students have registered to vote in the last month, thanks to members of the League of Women Voters of Horry County, who have been visiting high schools to simplify registration and ensure that eligible seniors will be able to participate in the democratic process.”

“... In Miami-Dade, for example, voter registration plunged by 39 percent. The link between the law and the suspension of registration drives is clearly showing up in these findings.”

“...people in the social sector are starting to work together in more and better ways – the good people at Brennan Center..., League of Women Voters, Rock the Vote, and Voto Latino have been very helpful with all of their research and surveys. These folks aren’t social workers or do gooders, they’re just trying to defend Americans and Founding Father values; it’s basic patriotism.”

"A big part of that drop-off is that volunteer groups have stopped doing third-party registration. Third-party registration is when organizations send people into the community carrying clipboards to sign up voters. ... The League of Women Voters used to do it. So did political parties and student groups. Now, hardly anyone does it."

"Increasing informed voter turnout 20 percent by 2020 is one of the goals of the League of Women Voters of Chester County. Our league volunteers have been very busy this spring registering voters to help accomplish this goal."

 The New York Times reports that since a number of civic organizations, including the League of Women Voters, suspended their independent voter registration drives because of onerous restrictions imposed by the new Florida law, fewer new voters are being registered in comparison to 2008 numbers.
 

“A push is on to register young voters across parts of northeast Michigan. The League of Women Voters of Alpena County has received a small grant to register young voters in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties.”

“Sweeping election law changes proposed in Connecticut would make it easier for Fairfield County voters to register online, allow registration on the same day as an election and permit more people to obtain absentee ballots.”

“Among the more absurd voter suppression measures is a part of the law requiring that voter registrations secured by third parties must be filed with election officials within 48 hours. Failure to accomplish that amounts to voter fraud. That has become problematic for high school civics teachers who for decades have helped their students register to vote as they neared or reached the age of 18. Because of that provision and others, the League of Women Voters, long lauded for non-partisan voter participation initiatives, suspended voter registration programs in Florida.”