Voter Registration

"A big part of that drop-off is that volunteer groups have stopped doing third-party registration. Third-party registration is when organizations send people into the community carrying clipboards to sign up voters. ... The League of Women Voters used to do it. So did political parties and student groups. Now, hardly anyone does it."

 The New York Times reports that since a number of civic organizations, including the League of Women Voters, suspended their independent voter registration drives because of onerous restrictions imposed by the new Florida law, fewer new voters are being registered in comparison to 2008 numbers.
 

“A push is on to register young voters across parts of northeast Michigan. The League of Women Voters of Alpena County has received a small grant to register young voters in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties.”

“Sweeping election law changes proposed in Connecticut would make it easier for Fairfield County voters to register online, allow registration on the same day as an election and permit more people to obtain absentee ballots.”

“Among the more absurd voter suppression measures is a part of the law requiring that voter registrations secured by third parties must be filed with election officials within 48 hours. Failure to accomplish that amounts to voter fraud. That has become problematic for high school civics teachers who for decades have helped their students register to vote as they neared or reached the age of 18. Because of that provision and others, the League of Women Voters, long lauded for non-partisan voter participation initiatives, suspended voter registration programs in Florida.”

“United States Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) each released the following statements today after the U.S. Department of Justice filed papers in court challenging portions of Florida’s new voting law.”

“On Friday, the United States Department of Justice announced it will seek a trial regarding Florida’s controversial elections law overhaul, passed last year by the state Legislature. ... A court in Tallahassee is also currently considering a challenge to the law by the League of Women Voters of Florida, Rock the Vote, Florida PIRG, and others.”

“Community voter registration drives serve a public purpose. They help get more people to the polls. In theory, at least, something considered a good thing ... That's where groups, such as the League of Women Voters... come in. We should encourage their efforts, not discourage them, while still making sure this vital job gets done right.”

Florida Restricts Independent Voter Registration Drives
“... The state has imposed new rules restricting third-party voter registration drives, which are so onerous that Rock the Vote, the League of Women Voters and the Florida Public Interest Research Group Education Fund have had to suspend their volunteer-led programs.”
 

 “Last year, the Florida legislature passed a bill enacting requirements for groups conducting voter registration drives so onerous that even the League of Women Voters were forced to pull out of the state. Sensible individuals would see this episode as a cautionary tale. South Carolina legislators view it instead as a how-to guide.”