Bill to end same-day voter registration draws fire

HELENA – Opponents turned out in force this morning to protest a bill that would end Montana's practice of allowing citizens to register to vote on Election Day.

So-called same-day registration, begun in 2006, causes too much extra work for Montana's county election officials, said House Bill 88's sponser, Rep. Ted Washburn, R-Bozeman (pictured).

“It puts all these people in to register and many are rejected because of residency and other reasons,” Washburn said. “I would say from the numbers the problem’s getting greater.”

Washburn's bill would cut off registration at 5 p.m. on the Friday before an election.

Washburn was the lone supporter of his bill, but the line of
opponents stretched well into the hallway.

Newly elected Secretary of State Linda McCulloch, a Democrat and now the state's top elections officer, spoke for many opponents in saying Washburn's bill would take deny voting opportunities for thousands of Montanans.

“Casting a ballot should be easy and accessible to all eligible voters,” she said.

Other opponents included Montana's League of Women Voters, AARP, the Associated Students of the University of Montana and the Montana Public Interest Research Group.

Robert Johnson of the Montana ALF-CIO said the bill would put restrictions on voters’ rights. “We oppose this bill because we believe everyone should have the right to vote,” Johnson said.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy