S. 2820: Same Day Registration Act

The bill titled the Same Day Registration Act aims to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by requiring all states to allow same-day voter registration. Here is a breakdown of what the bill entails:

Same-Day Registration Requirement

Under the new provisions, each state must:

• Allow eligible individuals to register to vote on the same day as federal elections and during early voting periods.
• Provide a process for individuals to register or update their registration information at polling places using a specific form in line with federal voter registration requirements.
• Enable these individuals to cast their votes in the election on the same day they register.

Eligibility

An eligible individual is defined as someone who meets the qualifications to vote in a federal election, indicating that they must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the state where they intend to vote, and of legal voting age, among other requirements.

Exceptions

The bill specifies that states are exempt from enforcing this requirement if they have no voter registration requirement in place for federal elections, as established by continuous state law. This means that if a state doesn't require residents to register at all for federal voting, it isn't obligated to implement same-day registration.

State Responsibilities

States are tasked with ensuring that:

• All polling places have the necessary forms for voter registration or updating registration at the time of the election.
• They comply with these requirements by the next regularly scheduled general election for federal office in November 2026, and for elections thereafter.

Transitional Provisions

For states that may need more time to implement these provisions, the bill includes different compliance timelines based on voter registration locations:

• Before the November 2028 election, states must ensure that at least one location is available for every 15,000 registered voters to facilitate same-day registration.
• For the November 2028 general election, states can request an extension if they certify their inability to comply due to impractical reasons, allowing them to meet the same location requirement during this election and others before the November 2030 general election.

Enforcement and Amendments

The bill also makes conforming amendments to the enforcement provisions of the Help America Vote Act, updating sections to reflect the introduction of same-day registration.

Effective Date

The provisions of this act are set to take effect for the 2026 federal elections, with the potential for gradual implementation based on the specified criteria, particularly for states needing accommodations during the transition.

Relevant Companies

None found.