Voting & Democracy In The News

MANY Massachusetts residents will miss out on a historic presidential primary today because they failed to meet the proper deadline for registration. Such polling place frustrations could be resolved quickly and higher turnout assured if the Massachusetts Legislature chose to adopt election day registration in time for the November general election.

There is no sound reason to require voters to register at least 20 days before an election. Media coverage escalates, races tighten, and voter interest intensifies as election day nears. That kind of electoral energy should be directed into the state's 2,166 precincts. But too often it gets lost in registration technicalities. A soon-to be-released study by the New York-based Demos research organization estimates that turnout in the November presidential election in Massachusetts could rise by 226,000 voters, or 4.9 percent, if people had the opportunity to register at their polling places on election day. Turnout among those ages 18 to 25 could increase by 9.7 percent, according to the study.

Proof of identity and address should be sufficient for someone to cast a ballot in a modern-day democracy. The oft-stated concern - a potential for voter fraud - has proven to be of little consequence in the eight states, including New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, that offer election day registration.

There are practical and inexpensive ways to keep the system on the up-and-up, ranging from the swearing of oaths to the mailing of non-forwardable letters to the addresses provided at the polling place. If the letter comes back to election officials, the voter's name is removed and authorities are alerted for possible prosecution.

Secretary of State William Galvin, the state's chief election officer, expresses some legitimate concerns over costs. The price of election day registration shouldn't be long lines and confusion for registered voters. Galvin estimates that it would cost $1 million to hire and train additional poll workers for November's general election. Other states do not report significant new expenses, though Massachusetts, with its large urban populations, may be different. It shouldn't be a barrier, however, with modest funding from the Legislature and creative use of funds from the federal Help America Vote Act.

None of the major political powers on Beacon Hill openly opposes election day registration. But a bill to establish such a system hasn't moved since the 2004 presidential election. There is always some problem or special interest at play. Should same-day registration apply to primaries as well as general elections? What about town elections? Or Proposition 2 1/2 overrides?

The answer is that every election is a good opportunity to reinforce the most basic of American rights.