2016 Postmortem

TCJ70

(4,387 posts) Mon Mar 28, 2016, 04:24 PM Mar 2016

General voter registration question

Why are there deadlines for changing your registration? The issues that occurred with people not being able to vote because they're in the wrong party could all be easily solved by just being able to change your party registration all the way up to voting day. Some of these deadlines were last year, as well! It just seems ridiculous to say "Sorry, you're out" before candidates have even had a chance to introduce themselves to voters.

3 replies

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General voter registration question (Original Post) TCJ70 Mar 2016 OP

At one time, it was because it allowed the government to estimate the number of voters jeff47 Mar 2016 #1

Voter registration is handled by the states. yardwork Mar 2016 #2

It all depends on where you live Retrograde Mar 2016 #3

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

1. At one time, it was because it allowed the government to estimate the number of voters

Reply to TCJ70 (Original post)

Mon Mar 28, 2016, 04:27 PM

Mar 2016

they would have in a particular area. That let them figure out if they needed more voting locations, how many ballots to print in an era when printing took a long time, and similar logistic problems.

They remain because they are useful for the status quo - more hurdles to voting helps fight off change.

yardwork

(61,608 posts)

2. Voter registration is handled by the states.

Reply to TCJ70 (Original post)

Mon Mar 28, 2016, 04:27 PM

Mar 2016

States taken over by Republicans are implementing terrible voter suppression techniques. The conservative majorities controlling the Supreme Court and Congress are allowing this.

We are seeing the very real impact of Republican takeover. Please vote Democratic in the fall, all the way down the ticket. Thanks.

Retrograde

(10,136 posts)

3. It all depends on where you live

Reply to TCJ70 (Original post)

Mon Mar 28, 2016, 04:36 PM

Mar 2016

Within Federal guidelines (i.e., citizens 18 and older may vote in Federal elections, poll taxes may not be imposed in Federal elections, etc.) states may set their own dates for registering to vote, changing party affiliation. And they mostly do it to make sure the party in power stays in power. New York is unusual in that while new voters can register up to about a month before the upcoming April election existing registered voters can not change their party affiliation less than (I think, I don't live in NY) within 6 months. Some states allow voters to register on election day, others don't.

The best place to find accurate information is at your state's Secretary of State website: that's (usually) the official who runs the elections.

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