Same-day voter registration passes in California
The next time you move to a new home, you may be able to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day, thanks to CALPIRG-backed legislation.
The next time you move to a new home, you’ll be able to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day, thanks to CALPIRG-backed legislation.
The new law, which won final legislative approval on Sept. 11, allows California voters to complete same-day registration at any precinct polling location in the state.
The legislation should increase registration among young voters. Voters who are new to the process often discover too late that they are unregistered or registered to the wrong address. Now, these voters will be able to register on the spot.
The law could also turn these voters into regulars, says CALPIRG Student Leader Elisa Chang. “Numerous studies have determined that voting is habit-forming, and young people who vote are more likely to become lifelong voters.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom gave the law his signature on Oct. 8.
Photo: Elisa Chang (top left, behind the table) and volunteers with CALPIRG Students encourage college students to vote before the 2018 election as part of the New Voters Project, which helped registered more than 6,000 students to vote leading up to the 2018 election. Credit: Staff
