Voter Registration

Election: Voter Registration

Introduction to Voter Registration

In addition to differences in political party strength, these national differences in voter participation result from variations in registration rules and the organization of elections. In Europe, governments automatically register their citizens as voters. In the United States, eligible voters must register with state election boards before they may vote. Progressive Era reformers introduced registration requirements at the end of the 19th century to make voting more difficult and thereby reduce voting fraud and other forms of electoral abuse. In Southern states, these requirements also provided an additional way to deprive both blacks and poor whites of the opportunity to vote. In urban areas, registration rules discouraged immigrant and working class voters from going to the polls.

Registration requirements have eased in most states since the 1960s. An eligible individual may now register to vote by simply mailing a postcard to the state election board. The 1993 federal “Motor-Voter” Act required states to make such postcards available in motor vehicle, public assistance, and military recruitment offices. Legislators hoped that easing burdens on voters might reverse trends in voting participation.” (1)

Mobile Voter Registration Centre in Election Law

Units that move around and are provided by an election authority in order to register voters in locations other than traditional registration centres. Mobile centres are not only used to reach remote areas. They can also be used to encourage citizens to sign up by approaching them directly rather than waiting for them to take the initiative to register.

Voter Register in Election Law

Official list of citizens who meet the legal requirements to exercise their right to vote and who are registered if national law requires them to do so. This list is normally needed to organise an election. For example, it is nessecary for extracting the voter lists that are used at polling stations on election day, in order to make sure citizens vote at the appropriate polling station. (See: Voter list)

Voter Registration in Election Law

Process of recording the names and other relevant information of citizens who meet the legal requirements to vote on a list specifically created and managed by the competent authorities. Voter registration can be voluntary (or ‘opt-in’), whereby a citizen must request to be registered, or passive, whereby he or she is automatically registered by the authority on the basis of civil registry data. Generally, registration on the voter list is a prerequisite for an individual to exercise his or her right to vote on election day.

Voter Registration Centre in Election Law

Place where citizens are asked to go in order to register their names on the voter list, so as to be able to exercise their right to vote.

Voter Registration Database in Election Law

Set of data concerning the voter list, generally stored in digital format.

Voter Registry Update in Election Law

Amendment/revision of voter lists by adding newly qualified voters and removing the names of those who are deceased, have been disqualified or have had their rights revoked by a judge. Updates can occur annually, when an election is held or it may be a continuous process.

Resources

See Also

• Election Law
• Electoral Laws
• Electoral Legislation

Resources

See Also

• Election Law
• Electoral Laws
• Electoral Legislation

Resources

See Also

• Election Law
• Electoral Laws
• Electoral Legislation

Resources

See Also

• Election Law
• Electoral Laws
• Electoral Legislation

Resources

See Also

• Election Law
• Electoral Laws
• Electoral Legislation

Resources

See Also

• Election Law
• Electoral Laws
• Electoral Legislation

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Voter Registration in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Voter Registration

In this Section

Election, Voter Registration, Electoral Systems, Election Types, How Voters Decide, Electoral Realignments, Electorate (including Electorate Historical, Electorate Gender, Electorate Race and Social Position, Electorate Property and Poll Tax and Residence) and Electronic Voting (including Electronic Voting Origins and Electronic Voting Problems)