SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland is co-sponsoring a bill that would require all states to provide same-day voter registration on Election Day for federal elections.
The first-term Democratic Congresswoman from Albuquerque on Thursday introduced the bill on Capitol Hill that would amend the existing 2002 Help America Vote Act.
She says the changes would make it easier for eligible voters to participate in the democratic process and that registration deadlines prior Election Day are a holdover from bygone days when voter rolls were maintained by hand.
Under current New Mexico state law, voter registration closes 28 days before Election Day. Democratic state legislators are advancing bills that would allow same-day voter registration and automatically register eligible voter during transactions at state motor vehicle offices.