FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 25, 2007
CONTACT: Tim Rusch
Tel: (212) 389-1407 Email: trusch@demos.org
NATIONAL VOTING RIGHTS GROUP DEMOS APPLAUDS NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR MIKE EASLEY FOR SIGNING SAME DAY REGISTRATION LAW
ALSO CALLS FOR SWIFT PRE-CLEARNCE BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
NEW YORK--Demos applauds North Carolina Governor Mike Easley for signing the Same Day Registration bill passed by the North Carolina Legislature. SDR allows eligible but unregistered voters to register to vote and cast a ballot during the states early voting period. The bill was introduced and shepherded through the legislature by Rep. Deborah Ross and Sen. Larry Shaw.
Demos' Democracy Program Director Stuart Comstock-Gay issued the following statement of support:
"Demos applauds Governor Mike Easley, for signing Same Day Registration into law on July 20, and Rep. Deborah Ross and Sen. Larry Shaw for their foresight and leadership in sponsoring this important voting reform and moving it through the legislature.
"North Carolina currently has had one of the most restrictive voter registration requirements in the nation, requiring citizens to register 25 days prior to Election Day in order to cast a ballot. It has also routinely ranked among the bottom third of states on voter participation.
"Same Day Registration will significantly enhance the ability of eligible North Carolinians to participate in elections. Once SDR goes into effect, individuals who miss the 25-day registration deadline will be able to register and vote at designated early voting sites, open from nineteen to three days before an election. A new Demos report by two leading political scientists, Professors Michael Alvarez from the California Institute of Technology and Jonathan Nagler form New York University, project an overall increase in voter turnout of more than 5 percent. Young people, those who have moved in the last six months, the poor, and African Americans are likely to see even bigger gains.
"Demos also calls on the U.S. Department of Justice to swiftly approve Same Day Registration so that more Tar Heel residents can vote in the November election. The Voting Rights Act requires that the Justice Department review any North Carolina voting change to ensure that minority voters are not adversely affected. Experts project voting gains among African Americans with Same Day Registration. The federal government should therefore pre-clear Same Day Registration before September 15 so that the reform can implemented at early voting sites this year."
With this new law, North Carolina becomes the second state in 2007 to pass Election/Same Day Registration. In April, Governor Chet Culver of Iowa signed a bill allowing citizens to register and vote on Election Day. Download Demos' new Same Day Voter Registration in North Carolina report at
