"Yes" Vote On Same-Day Registration

Milwaukee residents have an opportunity and obligation at the ballot box April 2nd, and that's to vote "yes" on the advisory referendum recommending retention of the state's same-day voting registration procedure.

It's shocking that in 2013 Americans anywhere would have to petition their government to continue unfettered access to the ballot box, but Gov. Walker and others have said they're thinking about ending the same-day procedure and that's enough for people to be alarmed and activated.

Closing off same-day registration is part and parcel of the Republican reaction to the Romney/Ryan debacle of 2012 and the party's reprehensible efforts around the country to reduce voting schedules or impose discriminatory voter ID laws in areas with strong Democratic turnouts.

So we can send a message on April 2nd to Wisconsin officials that messing with the voting process is off the table, and, in fact, more state effort should be put into encouraging voters to participate.

Some details, here.

The ballot question, sponsored by Ald. Milele Coggs and approved by the Common Council in January, states: "Should the state of Wisconsin continue to permit citizens to register to vote at the polls on election day?" It will be printed in both English and Spanish in areas with large Hispanic populations.

Coggs sought the referendum after Gov. Scott Walker said in November that he favors ending same-day registration, echoing earlier comments by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester).