OVER THE PAST two decades, Democrats have taken the lead in enacting reforms that increase access to the ballot. With the election of Democratic Gov. Maura Healey and a Democratic supermajority in the Legislature in 2022, many observers thought Massachusetts would join 22 other states and Washington, DC, by passing one of the most important policies affecting voter turnout — same-day voter registration (SDR). This policy allows prospective voters to register and cast their ballots during the early voting period or on Election Day itself.
So far, however, these expectations have been disappointed. SDR remains stuck in the Massachusetts Legislature.
This inaction is troubling. Even when they are generous, registration deadlines make voting more difficult. In an ideal world, eligible voters would plan to register well before the election. In reality, they don’t. Just as many people wait until the last minute to file their federal income taxes, many eligible voters procrastinate when it comes to registering. Some wait too long, and thus lose the opportunity to vote.
But punishing procrastination isn’t a good justification for disenfranchising otherwise eligible voters. Indeed, it’s worth remembering that the “Progressives” who sought to establish registration requirements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries often wanted to block voting by working-class voters and people of color. And voter turnout fell dramatically after registration laws were enacted.
So why should Massachusetts consider adopting SDR? First off, it works. Research has shown that SDR increases voter turnout, especially among younger voters and African American and Latino/a voters, and ensures more accurate voter rolls.
Second, it’s popular in the Commonwealth. Since 2021, our University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB poll of Massachusetts residents has found overwhelming support for SDR. Our May 2024 survey of Massachusetts residents shows that 69 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat favor allowing voters to register and vote on Election Day, while only 23 percent opposed the policy.
And SDR is not as politically divisive as you might think. To be sure, Massachusetts Democrats offer the strongest support for SDR, an astounding 84 to 9 margin. But independents also favor it, 57 to 27 percent, and even 44 percent of Republicans say they support SDR. In an era rife with gender, generational, class, and racial divisions, SDR likewise attracts support across each of these divides.
Third, there’s no evidence that SDR increases voter fraud or other election irregularities. The 22 states and the District of Columbia already using SDR haven’t experienced problems with fraud. North Dakota — a deep Red state — doesn’t require eligible voters to register at all, and nobody claims the Roughrider State is beset by fraud.
Given its efficacy and popularity, why isn’t SDR a reality in the Commonwealth? Some, such as former Gov. Charlie Baker, argue that SDR would add “complexity” to elections. Others speculate that some state legislators oppose SDR because they fear it would bring new voters into the electorate, thus opening the door to primary challenges for what were once safe legislative seats.
To put it mildly, these are not good reasons for opposing SDR. If other states can administer SDR effectively and securely, there is no reason that Massachusetts can’t do the same. The longtime Massachusetts secretary of state, William Galvin, has declared that “we can implement same day registration in a convenient and secure manner, as several of our neighboring states have done.”
Our recent polling finds that the “health of our democracy” is one of Massachusetts voters’ top concerns going into the 2024 election. The Massachusetts Legislature should act swiftly to pass same day voter registration to improve the health of our Commonwealth’s democracy and ensure its stated democratic commitment is embodied by its actions.
Adam Eichen is a PhD candidate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a graduate fellow at the UMass Amherst Poll. Jesse H. Rhodes is professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and co-director of the UMass Poll. Tatishe Nteta is provost professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the director of the UMass Poll.
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