Universal voter registration would modernize voter registration in the United States. Government would be responsible for maintaining accurate and complete voter rolls, shifting our system from its current opt-in structure to an opt-out structure. Automatic universal voter registration would significantly reduce duplications and omissions on the voter rolls, resulting in a system that balances the twin goals of election accessibility and security.
Voter registration originated in the early 19th century as a method of disenfranchisement. Many states were concerned with the growing number of foreign-born transients participating in local government, and so they developed a system of registration to ensure that these non-citizens could not vote... [read more]
On February 12th, FairVote executive director Rob Richie was a guest on CSPAN television's Washington Journal, aired live around the nation. That day he also had the first and final letters in the New York Times' "Invitation to Dialogue" series on voting reform. FairVote staff and interns have been publishing many articles in 2012.
Rob Richie on CSPAN
New York Times "Invitation to Dialogue"
Fair voting op-eds in St. Louis Post-Dispatch & Austin American-Statesman
FairVote blogs on Huffington Post & Oped News
Seven Ways to Universal Registration
Youth Voter Preregistration
17-year-old Primary Voting
State Voter Registration Agenda
Complete and accurate voter rolls are essential to the integrity of the electoral process and the legitimacy of results. Yet, as evidenced by recent elections, voter rolls are littered with duplicate registrants and errors. Nearly a third of eligible American voters are not registered to vote and voter registration drives result in a surge of registrations close to an election that are difficult to process and that create unanticipated demands on polling places. As a result, millions of eligible voters are effectively shut out of the political process. [read more]
The Canadian Model
Massachusetts Heath Care Model
An International Perspective
The Brennan Center for Justice on Voter Registration Modernization
Roadmap to Reform 2009