SUPPORTS
Proposition 52 - Election Day Voter Registration. Voter Fraud Penalties
Initiative Statute

This measure allows persons who are legally eligible to vote and have valid identification to register to vote on election day at their polling place. It increases criminal penalties for voter fraud and voter registration fraud and makes conspiracy to commit voter fraud a crime. It requires trained staff at polling places to manage election day registration. It creates a $6 million per year fund to provide the training and personnel necessary to implement the measure. It allows persons to register or reregister during the 28 days preceding election day at their local elections office. Provisional ballots will continue to be available for those whose registration is in question, and reregistration is not allowed solely to change party affiliation.

Voter registration now closes fifteen days before an election. If you moved after the close of registration, you must vote at the polling place in your former precinct. Provisional ballots are available for those whose registration is in question.

In 1999-2000, a bill in the Legislature proposed a version of election day voter registration, but the Governor threatened to veto it. As a compromise the bill was changed to move the 29 day registration deadline to 15 days before an election. Elections officials say they have found that 15 days is not enough time for them to prepare adequately for election day.

• Election day voter registration (EDVR) will increase voter turnout. The six states with election day voter registration lead the nation in voter turnout. A Caltech/MIT study (California Votes: the Promise of Election Day Registration - see Resources below) predicts as much as a 9% increase in voter turnout in California because it has a younger and more mobile population. Only about 200,000 18-25 year olds voted in March - a 13.6% turnout of those registered.
  
  
• Prop 52 provides up to $6 million to local election officials each year to offset the costs associated with implementing election day voter registration.
  
  
• Everyone benefits from election day voter registration. EDVR is a proven reform that increases voter turnout. Registering on election day means every eligible voter can focus on the issues instead of registration deadlines. Greater turnout will mean a more representative democracy and force elected officials to be more responsive to the needs of all Californians.
  
  
• Election day voter registration is not a new concept. Six states currently have EDVR in place in their election systems. Several of these states implemented EDVR in the 1970s and have consistently maintained high voter turnout. There are also twelve other states besides California that are looking into adopting EDVR.
  
  
• Election day voter registration will not increase voter fraud. The six states with EDVR have not witnessed any increases in voter fraud following its implementation. Proof of residence is required to register and vote on election day, and registration is supervised by trained election personnel. Registration under the current system has no such safeguards.
  
  
• Prop 52 increases election security. Prop 52 doubles the fines for fraud and makes conspiracy to commit voter fraud a new crime punishable by a three, four or five year prison sentence. Prop 52 also would require election officials to report instances of suspected fraud to the Secretary of State for investigation. Under the current election system, there is no such requirement.
  
  
• Registration on election day would require a valid California driver's license or two other forms of identification from a list approved by the Secretary of State to insure that eligible potential voters are at the correct polling place.
  
  
• Prop 52 has wide support. Prop 52 is endorsed by a broad based coalition of statewide organizations, law enforcement, labor groups, elections officials, public safety, community groups and elected officials, including former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, and former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa.

The rebuttal to the opponents' argument was signed by Barbara Inatsugu, President, League of Women Voters of California, and Rocky Delgadillo, Los Angeles City Attorney.

Other supporters of the measure include California Common Cause; California Professional Firefighters; Congress of California Seniors; ACLU of Northern California; ACLU of Southern California; Former Secretary of State Tony Miller; Yolo County Clerk-Recorder Tony Bernhard; Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Kenneth A. Pettit.

Marion Taylor, LWVC Government Director, mtaylor@got.net

Anne Henderson, LWVC Legislative Director, annehenderson@att.net

Eric Wooten, LWVC Advocacy Aide, 926 J Street, Suite 515, Sacramento 95814. Phone: 916-442-9210, Fax 916-442-7362, eric@lwvc.org

Californians for Election Day Registration, 1510 J Street, Suite 230, Sacramento 95814. Phone: 916-443 7011, www.electiondayreg.com

California Votes: The Promise of Election Day Registration (24 pages), by R. Michael Alvarez and Stephen Ansolabehere. Demos, 2002. Available from Demos: 212-633-1405 and at www.demos-usa.org/Pubs/CAEDR/

Note: Please adapt this letter to your own community and check your local paper's word limit for published letters.

Editor:

On November 5, California voters can act to increase voter participation in future elections by voting yes on Proposition 52, Election Day Voter Registration.

Proposition 52 will allow persons who are legally eligible to vote and have valid identification to register to vote on election day at their polling place. The measure includes numerous safeguards that will make election day registration even more secure than current registration methods. Six other states have successfully used election day registration for years and have increased their voter turnout even as the national average continues to fall.

Voter fraud is not a significant problem in California, but chronically declining voter participation is a real threat to our democracy. Election day voter registration will help turn the tide, guaranteeing that the voices of everyone eligible to vote can be heard on election day.

Sincerely,