Lawmakers Say "No" to Election Day Voter Registration

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Voters in Central Ogden have the lowest election turnout rate in the state. Their state representative Neil Hansen thinks it's because there are so many apartments and students living in the area - and he believes that waiving the 20-day advance voter registration deadline would bring more to the polls. But lawmakers turned down his request for a third year in a row, citing concerns that it would be easier for someone to fraudulently vote at multiple polling sites.

Under Hansen's plan, a person who is not registered to vote could use a provisional paper ballot, which the county clerk would have to certify as accurate and legal. Hansen believes people know that voter fraud is a serious offense and controls are in place to catch those who commit it. But lawmakers also seem wary of encouraging more provisional ballots because they caused the outcomes of several 2006 races to reverse when ballots were certified two weeks after Election Day.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2009 KCPW