New Mexico rolls out same-day voter registration program

[left-of-center2012]

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democrat-backed efforts to expand voter access in New Mexico are coming to fruition with the delayed rollout of same-day voter registration.

A trial run took place in a low-turnout special congressional election June 1, allowing people to register at early voting centers in the final weeks of balloting, including Election Day.

In all, 2,012 residents seized on the opportunity to register in the final four weeks of the election.

Previously, voter registration was cut off 28 days before any election. Late-registering voters flocked primarily to the Democratic Party, which accounted for 53% of of all registrations in the final weeks — and 50% on Election Day. About 32% of late registrations aligned with the Republican Party.

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/state-democrats-roll-out-same-day-voter-registration-program/6141984/?cat=516

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Nice. New Mexico was already making it very easy to vote.

Lots of early voting. Vote at any polling place in your county. Tell them who you are, maybe your birthdate or address, and they print up your ballot on the spot. Fill it out, then hand it to a poll worker who scans it to see if you've under or over voted any place on the ballot, and you're good to go. Easy peasy.

Oh, and at least in a presidential year, if a voter is a new voter, that gets announced and everyone in the building cheers the new voter. Every time I've seen that happen they're kids, and they're a bit embarrassed but pleased at the attention.

So glad they're now doing same day registration.

Actually registering to vote can seem intimidating to someone who has never done it. Same day should take a lot of the apprehension out of it.