Election day registration in MA could boost turnout
by Amanda Adams*, 3/28/2008
A new report by Demos estimates that Election Day Registration (EDR) in Massachusetts would increase overall voter turnout by nearly 5% and would increase the youth vote by nearly 10%. EDR allows citizens to register and to vote on Election Day. The report was authored by R. Michael Alvarez of Cal Tech and Jonathan Nagler of NYU. In their report, Alvarez and Nagler, write "Moving to EDR would lower that hurdle for thousands of citizens in Massachusetts, and bring more participants into the democratic process."
Legislation has been introduced in Massachusetts that would facilitate EDR. Currently, Massachusetts citizens must register 20 days in advance of an election. According to Demos, 8 states currently have EDR.
