Universal voter registration would modernize voter registration in the U.S. so the government shares responsibility for registration with its citizens to ensure full and accurate voter rolls. Complete registration will significantly reduce duplications and omissions on the voter rolls and help create a system that balances the twin goals of election accessibility and security.
The Delaware General Assembly yesterday passed HB 381, setting a uniform voter pre-registration age of 16-years-old. With the governor's signature, Delaware will become the 6th state with 16-year-old voter pre-registration, joining Hawaii, Florida, Washington , D.C. and three states that passed it in the past year, Maryland, North Carolina and Rhode Island. In addition, California and Oregon have adopted a 17-year-old pre-registration age. FairVote has had a presence in every state that has passed this policy after making it a priority in 2006.
Read the Delaware legislation HB 381
FairVote's Testimony in Maryland
Voter Pre-registration Factsheet
See what others are saying about Voter Pre-registration.
Making Pre-registration Work
Voter registration originated in the early 19th century as a method of disenfranchisement. Many states were concerned with the growing number of foreign-born transients participating in local government, and so they developed a system of registration to ensure that these non-citizens could not vote... [read more]
Seven Ways to Universal Registration
Youth Voter Pre-Registration
17-year-old Primary Voting
State Voter Registration Agenda
Complete and accurate voter rolls are essential to the integrity of the electoral process and the legitimacy of results. Yet, as evidenced by recent elections, voter rolls are littered with duplicate registrants and errors. Nearly a third of eligible American voters are not registered to vote and voter registration drives result in a surge of registrations close to an election that are difficult to process and that create unanticipated demands on polling places. As a result, millions of eligible voters are effectively shut out of the political process. [read more]
The Canadian Model
Massachusetts Heath Care Model
An International Perspective
The Brennan Center for Justice on Voter Registration Modernization
Roadmap to Reform 2009