Gov. Bill Richardson announced today his support for letting people register to vote on Election Day, but his office isn’t saying whether he will propose legislation to allow it in the upcoming legislative session.
Richardson made the announcement in a news release as the interim Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee discussed the issue this morning. Currently, the deadline to vote is weeks before Election Day.
“We need to make sure that everyone who is eligible to vote has the best opportunity to vote,” Richardson said in the release. “New Mexico has seen great success — in both increased voter confidence and participation — with those election reforms we’ve already enacted, particularly paper ballots. Election Day registration will further strengthen voting in New Mexico by making it easier and more accessible to our citizens.”
Several states already allow Election Day registration. Studies, and actual results from those states, show that it increases turnout, particularly among younger voters, newer residents and working citizens, according to Richardson’s news release.
Asked whether the governor will propose legislation in the upcoming session to allow same-day registration, Richardson spokeswoman Alarie Ray-Garcia said he is “supportive of the concept and will be making decisions about his legislative agenda soon.”
Richardson is also angling or being considered for a potential job in the Obama administration and may not be around to propose legislation when the session starts in mid-January.