NIU students should be aware of a current lawsuit in Illinois which seeks to end same-day voter registration, because it could affect their ability to vote in the upcoming general election. Election day voter registration is beneficial to our elections process, and younger voters in particular, due to its convenience, which is why it should not be discontinued.

The lawsuit, filed by tea party congressional candidate Patrick Harlan in conjunction with the Crawford County Republican Central Committee, alleges that same-day voter registration puts Republican Party candidates at a disadvantage during elections because a higher percentage of Republicans live in rural towns without same-day registration, according to the complaint filed by Harlan. Illinois currently requires counties with populations over 100,000 residents, which includes DeKalb County, to offer same-day voter registration in at least one polling station in that county.

Instead of trying to eliminate same-day voter registration state-wide, Republican politicians should instead focus on trying to get the current laws modified to require every county in the state to offer at least one location with same-day voter registration, not just the counties with over 100,000 residents.

Not all Illinois Republican politicians agree with the belief that same-day voter registration should be eliminated. Robert Pritchard, Illinois State Representative, acknowledges that the current 100,000 population requirement for same-day voter registration can present a disadvantage for Republican candidates. While he would like to see changes made to the existing voter registration rules to address the concerns raised by his fellow Republicans, Pritchard still supports same-day voter registration.

“I don’t think access is the real issue. I think motivation is the real issue,” said Pritchard. ”I encourage people to be informed and for everyone to vote.”

Dr. Scot Schraufnagel, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science, has done research on voter registration and has lectures devoted to the issue as part of his curriculum.

“Same-day voter registration works to increase voter turnout,” said Schraufnagel. “As it stands right now, there is no measurable or statistically significant partisan advantage by increasing voter turnout.” He also said younger voters who generally tend to move often are unfavorably affected by eliminating same-day voter registration.

Younger voters are also less likely to have access to the resources that would enable them to partake in the elections process, said Christine Wang, Student Association Speaker. Access to transportation, in particular, can be an issue for students. Between that and their busy class schedules, Wang says same-day voter registration is a beneficial process for younger voters that more states should adopt.

“It’s incredibly paramount, especially in this election, that we have our voices heard,” said Wang. “We have to take the initiative to go out and vote…we need to make sure that our futures are secure.”

Although I was previously registered to vote in Streamwood, upon moving to DeKalb this January, I discovered that I was not eligible to vote here. I realized this a couple days before the Illinois primaries in March.

Same-day voter registration is convenient for younger voters who move often. I had enough on my plate with moving to a new city, enrolling in a new school and preparing for my first semester at NIU. Ensuring I was properly registered to vote in DeKalb was not at the top of my to-do list. Because of same day voter registration, I was able to register to vote at my polling location on primary election day.

I encourage all NIU students to register to vote now. If this lawsuit is successful, same-day voter registration will not be available during the upcoming elections in November. To check voter registration status online, visit www.elections.il.gov, and if not yet registered please do so.