On April 6, the California Senate Elections Committee passed SB 1140 by a vote of 3-2. It permits unregistered voters to register on election day. However, for 2012, such voters could only do this at a county government office, not at a neighborhood polling place. The bill now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill’s author is Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco).
Election day voter registration was put on the ballot via citizen petition in California back in 2002. A majority of the voters rejected it.
I favor the idea myself. I think that election day voter registration helps minor party and independent candidates since many people who’d vote for them aren’t already registered to vote (which in many cases because they aren’t inspired to vote by the Democrats or Republicans). I know that election day voter registration in Minnesota helped Jesse Ventura get elected to the office of Governor.
it would even a better idea at the local polling place[s] as California allows only one hour off of work to vote.
Some localities allow the entire day off [accounting for multiple ‘coin flips’ I suppose —- humor, or attempts there at ………]