Overview

Democracy functions best when people turn out to the polls and vote. Unfortunately, North Carolina ranks in the bottom third of the country in voter turnout. Our low turnout rate is due partially to the fact that 1 million voting age citizens are not even registered. About 250,000 of these unregistered voters are under 25, and statistics show that citizens who don’t vote in their first election are unlikely to ever vote at all.

By increasing voter participation, we’ll facilitate a democracy that is more responsive to the public and its needs. Same-day voter registration is a proven way to do that, especially among young voters.

Six states, Minnesota, Maine, Wisconsin, Idaho, New Hampshire and Wyoming, already have same-day voter registration and in those states voter turnout averaged 61 percent in the 1996 and 2000 Presidential elections — that’s ten percent higher than the national average for the same elections (51 percent).

NCPIRG supports same-day voter registration because it will increase voter turnout and facilitate a more responsive democracy.

Here’s how same-day voter registration would work in North Carolina: unregistered voters will show up at an early-voting location within their county of residence and present documentation verifying their identity and place of residence. Voters would then sign a sworn statement affirming that they are a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old, and reside at the address provided. From there, it’s off to the ballot box.