Can We Register Voters Better? Yes.

We talk about promoting democracy around the world, but neglect the infrastructure of our own democracy. This is most visible in our antiquated voter registration system.

Voter registration is the gateway to voting. But our registration system relies on 19th century practices, and, leaves millions of eligible voters out of the political process. Recent Census reports show that 30% of eligible Americans aren't registered to vote. Most major democracies do far better; a recent Brennan Center study of voter registration systems around the world shows that Canada, France, Germany, and Great Britain each register well over 90% of their eligible citizens.

Voter apathy does not explain our low registration rates. In the 2008 elections, 2 to 3 million eligible Americans attempted to vote, but were thwarted by voter registration problems; an additional 9 million were unable to register because of registration deadlines or residency rules, Professor Stephen Ansolabehere of Harvard and MIT testified before the Senate Rules Committee this year. Voter protection hotlines consistently say voter registration is the problem would-be voters report most often. And election officials report that registration problems are the number one reason that provisional ballots are not counted.

So why do we lag so far behind other countries in voter registration? Unlike other major democracies, the United States places the onus of voter registration on individual citizens. Plus, our system is based principally on paper forms, which compounds the problem. Every voter, every time they move, must fill out new forms which must then be delivered to appropriate election officials, deciphered, processed, and entered into a database; the forms typically arrive together in huge volumes, right before an election. This system is ripe for error, duplication, and waste; worse, the system ends up disenfranchising millions of eligible voters.

It doesn't have to be this way. Our study of twenty voter registration systems around the world -- the most comprehensive such study to date -- finds that in nearly every democracy surveyed, government helps assure that every eligible citizen is registered to vote. Only four countries other than the United States -- the Bahamas, Belize, Burundi, and Mexico -- place the burden of voter registration on individual citizens.

Other democracies use a variety of methods to register voters, but the most common method -- and one which is readily adoptable here -- is by compiling lists of unregistered eligible citizens from other government lists. Canada, which has a decentralized federal system similar to ours, automatically adds every 18-year-old and other citizens to its voter rolls using information from other government agencies. And, it continually updates voter records with data from other government agencies, a practice followed in several other countries. To insure government mistakes don't prevent any one from voting, Canada has a procedure for citizens to register or update registrations on Election Day. Less than 7% of Canadians are unregistered, in contrast with 30% of Americans, and the vast majority of the records on the Canadian voter rolls -- unlike ours -- are accurate and up-to-date.

This common-sense approach -- automatic registration, permanent registration through electronic updates, and an Election Day list correction procedure -- would add 50 to 65 million eligible voters to the registration rolls here; it would also save taxpayers money and ensure our voter rolls are more accurate and less susceptible to fraud and manipulation. Canada and Australia both substantially reduced their election costs when they modernized their voter rolls -- and, they recouped their low transition costs almost immediately.

Can this be achieved in the United States? Absolutely -- and it wouldn't even take that long. States already have the necessary infrastructure -- centralized voter registration databases and government agency lists capable of electronically sharing information. With a minor upgrade to our registration system, states can use reliable and accurate information in other government databases to automatically add eligible citizens to the voter lists and keep their information current. That is how many other countries build their voter rolls, and it is also largely how the U.S. Selective Service System creates its list. Fail-safe procedures before and on Election Day will ensure that any government mistakes are caught and corrected.

There is the political will to do this: election officials and political actors of all stripes support voter registration modernization. In the June 25th issue of The Washington Post, the chief lawyers of both the Obama and McCain campaigns editorialized in favor of modernizing the registration system -- a reform that addresses the concerns of both major parties. The Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senator Chuck Schumer, has already held a hearing on the problems with the voter registration system. Now is the time for Congress to take the next step to solve those problems and make voter registration modernization a priority this year.

Comments

[WilliamL]

The responsiblity to maintain voter registration sd. be upon the individual.

Somehow, over the course of twenty plus years and moving, I have managed to maintain my voter reg. and vote.

Between motor voter and libraries, unregistered voters have no excuse for not registering and voting if such is their choice.

If people are unable to register to vote themselves through a variety of opportunities, perhaps such people sd not be voting. The entire business of voter registration campaigns, at this point have become rediculous for so many reasons.

Here we are a year plus out from mid-terms and a few more till the general at which time people will be scrambling to get registered, claim they are disenfranchised, and all the other excuses associated with people who are unwilling to recognize their own role in participating in a democratic process.

Such people are growing very tired and such people need to be told straight out-"it is your resposibility to get it done" so quit making excuses for these people.

[noneIn2008]

Why vote when it is rigged for the Dem and Reps. They will not let an independent in most of the contests.

[obamagirl1968]

I agree with the premise of the article but the issue is so much bigger.

First of all, there is no way that PRIVATE organizations should be responsible for such information (not just in this arena but in many others such as credit reports). There is too much opportunity for identity theft.

Second, the US government has a record of EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN (through birth or naturalization), therefore why should it be incumbent on the individual to register when they become eligible to vote? Unfortunately, there is so much garbage in the government databases that a major cleanup needs to happen before this type of system can be relied upon.

Third, the issue that requiring a photo ID disenfranchises certain classes of people is baloney. ANYONE who touches the federal or state government can and should be issued a photo ID, ie food stamps, incarceration, unemployment, drivers license, school registration, etc. I guarantee that there is not a single CITIZEN that does not have some entry into a government database for services therefore no excuse is acceptable.

[tracerhaha1]

It will never happen the political parties like the system the way it is. If too many people registered and voted they might lose power and they surely don't want that.

[sdskelton03]

If someone isn't willing to stop by the library and fill out a card, I would rather they not vote.

If participating in democracy is that unimportant to someone, why do we lament his or her vote not being counted? Do we really believe they have taken the time to research candidates, understand ballot initiatives and contemplate what they believe and why they believe it?

[greysells2]

Voter registration is different from voting.

[babyboomerorig]

This is the United States of America.

We are supposed to be the most up-to-date country in the world.

Why is it that so many other nations excell in education, health coverage, engineering, math, science and so many other areas. Broadband is one glaring area.

If we're all that we say we are, why can't we get the government to improve any and all conditions that we fall behind other industrialized nations?

[dadw5boys]

THE NAMES OF ALL VOTERS WHOSE VOTES ARE CHALLENGED NEEDS TO BE POSTED FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.

WHO CHALLENGED THE VOTE AND WHY !!!!!!!

REPUBLICANS CHALLENGE IF TOO MANY VOTES FROM ONE ADDRESS !!!!!

MILITARY BASES HAVE ONE ADDRESS ! NURSING HOMES HAVE ONE ADDRESS !

V.A. HOSPITALS HAVE ONE ADDRESS !!!!! V.A. REHAB CENTERS HAVE ONE ADDRESS !!!!!

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON !!!

[johnpseudo]

Why? We've never had a problem with impostor voting, and millions of eligible voters don't have photo IDs.

[dan-o]

Never???? A lot of dead people voted for John Kennedy in Chicago when he ran against Nixon. Nixon didn't challenge the vote because he didn't want to split the country. He may have won if not for the voter fraud in Chicago.

[mredder4]

The problem is not with registering voters in a better manner; it's registering BETTER VOTERS.

Voters that read, not just the news but books on science, sociology, and especially history.
Voters that wield their check mark with principle, voting for their ideals and not just their party.
Voters that are willing to back a losing side now if it means victory in the future. (This being the only successful way that a third party would grow in America. People need to have the courage to go off of the Dem/GOP fix cold-turkey.)

Voting is as much about quality as it is about quantity, and the problem that is killing America right now is that the uneducated are becoming the dominant demographic.

[Ben Dixon]

You are spot on sir. Better voters, not more voters.

[sdskelton03]

I agree with most of what you said.

I disagree that voters should always vote for "their" candidate, whether or not that candidate has a chance.

I voted Libertarian in the presidential election because that is how I believe. However, if my state was up in the air between the two major candidates, I would voted for one of them. There is a time for the loud voice of neither party, but there is also a time for pragmatism.

[greysells2]

Why does America have so many poorly educated, uneducated or illiterate citzens? This is odd for a developed country and a world leader..

[BobLablah]

Register them any way you want - just require them to show photo ID when they vote.