Not all election reforms promote equality
Not all election reforms promote equality
An op-ed in the Boston Globe by Elizabeth Rigby, assistant professor of public policy and public administration at George Washington University, makes a strong case for Election Day registration.
Yet our findings also show that Election Day registration can greatly reduce inequalities in voter participation. Replacing two separate steps with one trip to the voting place makes a real difference for low-income citizens. Election Day registration is the reform that has demonstrated the greatest potential to make American electoral democracy more equal.
To date, only a dozen states have adopted Election Day registration. However, there is increasing attention to this promising reform. Since 2011, Election Day Registration has been passed into law in California, Colorado, and Connecticut. Other states, including Delaware, Maryland, and Massachusetts, are seriously considering the issue. This is a promising development since Election Day registration beckons as an untapped tool for Americans who want full and equal voter participation.