California to Allow Voters to Register to Vote at Every Polling Site on Election Day

SACRAMENTO – Today, California Governor Newsom signed SB 72, legislation introduced by State Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) to allow all eligible Californians to register to vote and cast a ballot at all polling sites on Election Day. California now joins 13 other states and the District of Columbia in making Election Day registration available at polling sites to voters.

In response, Raúl Macías, Voting Rights Project Manager and Attorney with ACLU of California, had this to say:

Today cements another victory in the long-fought battle to strengthen voting rights and voter participation in California.

The right to vote is a core tenet of our democracy, but for far too long, barriers to voter participation have locked too many people out of our democratic process – particularly Black and Brown, low-income, young voters, and voters with disabilities.

By making Election Day registration available at every polling site in the state, SB 72 will increase voter engagement for eligible voters who are eager to cast a vote, but who were unable to register or update their registration by the deadline.

We thank California’s governor and lawmakers for doing their part to strengthen our democracy.

SB 72 will make Election Day Registration available at polling sites in 2020.

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