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WASHINGTON - Democratic lawmakers from
Minnesota and Wisconsin are seeking legislation that would require
states to have same-day voter registration for federal elections,
saying it would encourage more people to vote.
Sens. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and
Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota,
introduced companion bills on Thursday. Both states have same-day
registration.
Ellison had introduced a similar bill
last year but agreed to drop it so he could introduce the new
legislation, which makes technical changes but is substantively the
same.
The new legislation comes three days
after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can require voters to
produce photo identification. Civil rights groups worry that such
voter ID laws will deter poor, older and minority voters from casting
ballots, while proponents say voter ID laws are needed to prevent
fraud.
Ellison called voting a sacred right
and a moral obligation.
"We must do everything that
encourages, fosters and facilitates everyone's ability to exercise
that right," he said, adding that the legislation would
"help counter this deeply flawed Supreme Court ruling that
disenfranchises thousands of voters from our most vulnerable
communities — the poor, elderly and minority communities."
Feingold said same-day registration has
worked well in Wisconsin for more than 30 years.
"By allowing people to register in
person on election day, we can bring more people into the process,
which only strengthens our democracy," he said.
Klobuchar made a similar observation
about Minnesota's experience.
"Same-day registration works, it
encourages people to be engaged and interested in the issues facing
our country — this bill gives a voice to every American who wants to
vote," she said.
But Rep. Steve King, an Iowa
Republican, shot down the legislation.
"There are plenty of
constitutional reasons why it's a bad idea," he said.
King said that under the concept of
federalism, states are supposed to run the elections with a minimum of
federal interference. And he said he worried that same-day
registration would invite voter fraud. Sponsors of the bill argue that
it reduces fraud because voters are actually present when they
register.
"The argument is Republicans are
opposed to things that make it easier to vote," King said.
"No, we're opposed to things that erode the integrity of the
people who are legitimate voters."
Sen. Norm Coleman, a Minnesota
Republican, parted with King on this issue, saying he supported the
legislation. But rather than pitch the bill as a counterweight to this
week's Supreme Court decision, as Ellison did, Coleman said the two go
hand-in-hand.
"If you combine that with the
Supreme Court's ruling, which says that you can do those things to
ensure that the folks who are voting are really the folks who are
voting, I think that's a good thing," he said. "When you
combine the two, they're good steps, that would increase turnout, but
you do it in a way that lessens the possibility of fraud."
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