On April 30, the Connecticut House passed HB 5024, which makes it possible for unregistered individuals to register on election day. Here is the text of the bill. The vote was 83-59. Now the bill goes to the Senate. See this story, which says the House debated for five hours on this bill.
The leading opponent of the bill in the House debate said that this bill would make it possible for “some brat from Virginia” to vote twice for President, once in Virginia and once in Connecticut. But this was already possible and not necessarily illegal. Because the Electoral College system exists, and because early voting exists in so many states, it is possible and legal for individuals to vote for President in more than one state. If a voter is domiciled in one state, he may vote in that state’s selection process for presidential electors, by using early voting. Then, in theory at least, that voter might change domicile to another state, and he or she could then legally vote in that other state’s process for choosing presidential electors. Technically, the two elections are separate elections. In each election, the true candidates are candidates for presidential elector, and the election in one particular state over whom the electors should be for that state is a separate election from the other state’s choice of presidential electors. This is one of the flaws of the Electoral College system.
Thanks to Josh Van Vranken for this news.