Today, the “Democracy in a Day” Coalition, consisting of over 70 organizations, renewed calls for the New Jersey Legislature to pass same-day voter registration with the launch of new website. The website, democracyinaday.org, makes it easy for New Jersey residents to learn more about same-day voter registration and urge legislators to act.

Same-day voter registration legislation (A925/S1193), reintroduced in the new legislative session, uses existing election infrastructure to allow voters to register to vote and vote at polling places during early voting and on election days. Same-day voter registration allows voters to update their information, like a change of address, improving the accuracy of our voter rolls, and is shown to increase voter turnout.

“2024 is a critical and high turnout election year. Legislators have a choice: they can pass same-day voter registration to ensure that voters are not disenfranchised and all voices are heard, or they can continue to fuel mistrust and disillusionment by turning otherwise eligible voters away at the polls,” said Jesse Burns, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. “It is time for New Jersey to stand by their reputation as a national voting rights leader and do what is right for our democracy and our voters. It is time for same-day voter registration.”

“Same-day voter registration is common sense legislation that can bridge the voter registration gap and protect Black and Brown people from being disproportionately disenfranchised on Election Day,” said Micauri Vargas, Associate Counsel of the Democracy & Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “With voting rights under attack throughout the country, New Jersey must embrace democracy and remove this arbitrary barrier to the ballot box by passing same-day voter registration this legislative session.”

“New Jersey has an opportunity to be a national leader in strengthening voting rights and dismantling barriers to the ballot that disproportionally impact young people and communities of color,” said ACLU of New Jersey Campaign Strategist Alejandra Sorto. “The state’s infrastructure and technology to securely process same-day voter registration is in place, yet its arbitrary twenty-one-day deadline remains. Establishing same-day voter registration will strengthen our democracy, increase voter participation, and empower young voters and voters of color. We call on New Jersey legislators to eliminate this unnecessary barrier that continues to diminish their constituents’ fundamental right to vote.”

“In a nation where democracy stands in ever-increasing peril and policy decisions continue to be made against the popular will, Same Day Voter Registration stands as an essential tool to restore the power of the people,” said Rev. Barry Wise II, Pastor of Great Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Faith in New Jersey Board Member. “Faith In New Jersey urges the NJ State Legislature to take up the cause of Same Day Voter Registration and pass it to ensure that every voice is heard, especially the most vulnerable members of our society who are so easily excluded from the process of voting. Only then will we experience the power and liberation that becomes possible in a truly participatory democracy.”

“Each of us has a moral responsibility to ensure that every American can vote and have their voice counted and it is incumbent that we remove unnecessary barriers to make the process of legal voting easier,” stated New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition Executive Director Tomas Varela, Jr.  “As seen in over 20 other states across the country, same-day voter registration is the true definition of democracy as it dramatically increases voter turnout – especially our younger voters, secures our voter rolls with the most updated information, and empowers the people with greater opportunity.  The demand in our state is clear and it is time for Trenton to adapt, update, and act.”

“New Jersey needs Same Day Voter Registration (SDVR).  Many potential voters, but especially people of color, are disenfranchised every year by the unnecessary and arbitrary 21-day wait between registration and voting,” said Tashira Wheeler, President, Social Justice Matters. “New Jersey should be a leader in creating greater equity and increasing voter turnout, but over twenty other states already have SDVR while New Jersey doesn’t.  It would be easy and low-cost to implement with existing election infrastructure using provisional ballots and also secure requiring proof of identification and residency before votes would be counted.  Why wouldn’t New Jersey lawmakers want to increase democracy in the state?”

“Same-day voter registration is a crucial step forward to expand voting rights, particularly for youth and formerly incarcerated individuals,” said Faith Cardillo, Rapid Response Lead and state policy team member for March for Our Lives New Jersey. “Ahead of the 2024 election, the NJ Legislature must prioritize passing same day voter registration to increase voter turnout and lower the barriers to voting. There is no reason why an arbitrary 21-day voter registration deadline should prevent people from exercising their right to vote. Same day voter registration is already implemented in twenty two states and D.C. and we urge New Jersey to follow suit.”

The “Democracy in a Day” coalition urges the New Jersey Senate and Assembly to pass same-day voter registration early in the legislative session so that it might be implemented ahead of the 2024 General Election.