Same-day voting could go to referendum in 2010

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Three Montgomery County Democrats are seeking an amendment to the state constitution that would let voters decide whether the system should be adopted.

If approved, it could be in place for the 2012 presidential election, and Maryland would join nine other states, including Minnesota, North Carolina and New Hampshire, that have some form of Election Day registration.

Currently, voters must register with the local boards of elections 21 days prior to Election Day.

Del. Kirill Reznik, lead sponsor of the House bill, cited increased voter turnout and voter enfranchisement as benefits of same-day registration. But Republicans and conservative groups say the system foments potential voter fraud.

Citizens relocate, attend college or are military personnel from overseas, and in some cases they miss the 21-day voter registration deadline, said Reznik (D-Montgomery). "These people should not be denied their right to vote for what is essentially a paperwork issue."

Reznik cited the 10 percent to 12 percent increase in voter turnout in states with same-day registration and sees the same possibility in Maryland.

A 2006 joint report from the state attorney general and elections administrator concluded that same-day registration in Maryland would require amending the state constitution, election law and state code. If it had been implemented for the 2008 presidential election, same-day registration would have increased voter turnout only an estimated 1 to 3 percent, the report stated.

Sens. Mike G. Lenett and Jamie B. Raskin, both Montgomery Democrats, are the chief Senate advocates.

Despite the possible benefits, Senate Minority Leader Allan H. Kittleman (R-Howard, Carroll) and members of the GOP caucus worry that it could tarnish the integrity of the election process.

"I have a strong concern about election fraud," he said. "I don't think it's very difficult to register to vote right now."

And there is no pressing need for it, said Larry Hart, lobbyist for the American Conservative Union in Virginia.

Providing reasonable timelines on voter registration and leaving enough time to adequately process registrations are necessary to ensure a fair voting process, Hart said.

Three-fifths of state lawmakers in the House and Senate must approve of the measure to put it on the ballot.

The State Board of Elections has yet to do an analysis and detail possible implementation challenges on the same-day system, said Deputy Administrator Ross Goldstein.

"This is really the next significant step in Maryland," he said.

"This is designed to help both apathetic and interested voters."

Staff writer Alan Brody contributed to this report.

jdavis@gazette.net