Different democracies have differing approaches to the question of whether to allow voter registration on election day. In a system using a periodic list, which prepares an entirely new voters’ list for each electoral event, names could be omitted from the preliminary or final list for various reasons: Voters may forget to register. They may not realise that they have to register or that a registration drive is underway. They may be ill or on a trip during the registration period. Other reasons apply in a system using a continuous register: A voter may recently have moved, and the election management authority’s data-sharing program did not capture the change of address information, or the voter did not correct the information during the revision period. Voters may also have recently satisfied eligibility requirements but did not take steps to be entered in the voters register.
Normally the approach to this issue is set in a country’s electoral legislation, not determined by the merits of a particular case. If the law allows registration on election day, there must be clearly defined parameters for applying the provision. For example, should election day registration be allowed only in exceptional circumstances? Some election management authorities allow any eligible person presenting the necessary identification to both register and vote on election day; others do not.
In addition, should the election management authority keep a list of people who register on election day, separate from the general voters list? Should it also keep a copy of documentation shown by voters registering on election day, such as a driver’s licence with photo identification or a voter registration form with the voter’s signature? If it does this, the election management authority must arrange for secure storage of the material at the voting station. It may also be required to report the number of voters who registered on election day, and to specify a time and location for political parties to review the list of these voters.
Minimizing the Risk of Voter Fraud
Election day registration could significantly increase the risk of voter fraud. There are several ways to minimize this risk:
- Identification. Voters must show photo identification to prove their identity, and must confirm that they are eligible. (Voter fraud risks are lowest in countries where all, or almost all, citizens carry identification, especially with photo.)
- Voting in place of residence. Voters are assigned to a specific voting station in their community, and they must either demonstrate or attest to their residence in that community.
- Personal acquaintance. Election officials at a voting place are from the local area and may be personally acquainted with the people who are to vote at that voting place. Of course, this situation is unlikely in highly urbanized areas.
Marking people who have voted. Voters must dip a finger in indelible ink to show that they have already voted. Voters also must demonstrate that they meet residence or other eligibility requirements.
