Scott Walker criticizes same-day voter registration
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. / Scott Olson/Getty Images
Updated 3:21 p.m. Eastern Time
© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker is suggesting that he may move to eliminate same-day voter registration in Wisconsin, a high-turnout state that has allowed citizens to register to vote on Election Day since 1976.
As the Associated Press reported, Walker gave a speech in which he said same-day registration is problematic because volunteer poll workers struggle to handle the same-day registrations.
"States across the country that have same-day registration have real problems because the vast majority of their states have poll workers who are wonderful volunteers, who work 13-hour days and who in most cases are retirees," he said during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Foundation in California Friday. "It's difficult for them to handle the volume of people who come at the last minute. It'd be much better if registration was done in advance of Election Day. It'd be easier for our clerks to handle that. All that needs to be done."
The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board does not yet have figures on the number of people who registered to vote on the same day in the 2012 election, since municipalities have a 45-day window to report their figures after Election Day. In 2008, roughly 460,000 people registered on Election Day, amounting to 15.33 percent of the overall electorate. That includes people who were changing their name or address.
The Government Accountability Board told CBS News that it "did not receive reports of unusual problems with Election Day Registration for the November 6, 2012 election."
"There are always lines if polling places are not properly organized, but at this point we cannot attribute the length of lines to the existence of Election Day Registration," said a spokesman, who said the Board is currently studying the fiscal and administrative impact of eliminating same-day registration.
In a statement, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said Walker and the GOP "have attempted to erect unnecessary road blocks that impede voter access - especially for students, seniors and minorities - at every turn."
"That's because Republicans learned a long time ago that when more people vote, Democrats win. They've erected barrier after barrier to keep people from participating, and this is just the next step in the process," he added, pointing to GOP-backed efforts to require photo identification at the polls and shorten early voting periods.
Wisconsin is one of eight states that allowed same-day registration in the 2012 election, though two more states plan to implement it. If the state does away with the practice, it will be required by the federal government to institute the so-called "motor-voter" system that allows people to register in conjunction with getting their drivers license. The state would also lose its exception from the provisional voting requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
The incoming Republican Assembly Speaker, Robin Vos, told the AP he is open to introducing a measure to eliminate same-day registration in Wisconsin, though he is unlikely to do so in the near future. Vos has introduced similar measures in the past.
Voters who register in Wisconsin on Election Day must provide a proof-of-residence document with their current address -- a drivers' license, utility bill, bank statement or other document. The state's Government Accountability Board said in an email that "[q]uestions often arise at polling places about which documents are acceptable for proof of residence purposes."
Despite a late push by Mitt Romney's presidential campaign and the presence of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan on the GOP ticket, President Obama won Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes two weeks ago. In June, Walker survived a recall vote spurred by his proposal to end collective bargaining for most public worker unions.
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Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf presented an email in court this past Monday that shows Walker ordered top aids on his gubernatorial campaign to coordinate on his media strategy with his county staff at 8 a.m. every day. The emails were seized in a secret investigation into Walker's county office.
The state Democratic Party issued a release Tuesday saying there's no doubt Walker himself was involved in criminal activity.
Maybe it's not going to matter to anyone but Scott Walker and perhaps his cellmate whether or not Wisconsin keeps same-day registration....stay tuned.
If you want "vetting", there it is....and I think you know where you can put it too. : )>
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I have asked you multiple times now to explain the vetting of same-day registations and you have replied with this travelouge type answer. Either you do not know how or even if they were vetted or you are a paid shill for the democrat party in Wi. Which is it?
Simply answer the question with an honest answer and not some cut/paste garbage trying to sell an idea.
republicans have lost the last two elections. You and your ilk better get used to it because you loons and wackos aren't gonna win any national elections anytime soon.So top being silly, dumb and stupid.
It takes a heck of a patriot to stand in line for 7 hours just to participate in our democratic process.
Shame on you, Mr. Walker.
In American you like your ilk have a right to be stupid surface thinkers in support to a party hellbent on subverting our democracy. Clearly you're proud of all that.