Has anyone here done GOTV in a same-day voter registration state?

[wildeyed]

My state, NC, just passed same-day voter registration legislation :applause:

It will begin during the next election cycle, 2007. In NC, you will be able to register and vote, but only during the early voting period, not on the actual election day. Not quite the same as other states who do same-day, but still pretty impressive legislation to get passed in a Southern state!

I do tons of voter registration and education. I am formulating a plan to test this new tool and I was hoping to get advice/feedback from folks who have done turn out with SDR in other areas.

I was thinking to try it out in two areas, large apartment complexes and homeless programs.

For the apartment complexes, I was thinking , do a lit drop a few days before sending a team of canvassers around to talk to potential voters face to face, try to get them to go register and vote at the same time.

Homeless shelters are difficult, I have done voter education work in them before with little success. But I was thinking that SDR would work since I don't have to register folks, then come back and find them for voting a month or two later. I can do it all in one day.

Local elections are tight in my city. They have been swinging on as few as 100 votes. So turning out a group of homeless voters could potentially make the local elected representatives much more willing to address their issues. :)

Local colleges are also a no-brainer, but in my city, all but one seem to swing mildly conservative.

Anyway, those are just some random thoughts I have had on the issue. I would welcome any other comment/suggestions about how to use this new tool.

[RB TexLa]

1. No but I do know that if the person or people don't tell you they are committing a crime or fraud

there is no crime in someone driving voters to multiple voting sites.

[frazzled]

2. Some advice

While I haven't done GOTV in a same-day registration state, I have done tons of it in several other states, in local, state, and national elections.

My advice is that you should not be doing this on your own. I'm sorry, but more harm than good can sometimes come of such good intentions. The legalities are complex and the strategies refined. My view is that you should link up with either an organization (League of Women's Voters or some such organization) or a candidate's campaign office and offer your services: you will receive supervised electoral training and will be part of an organization's legal and electoral strategy.

Second advice: you should never canvas or register or even phone bank on your own: you must always take a partner.

[wildeyed]

3. I disagree.

I understand the legality of what I do, I have a strategy and I have done this extensively and with much success since the 2004 election.

That said, I am working with larger groups in a coalition this election cycle. I had contact with other non-partisan groups all along, including the League, NAACP, homeless advocates and others who encouraged my work.

To me, this work is a concrete expression of my political beliefs, my willingness to work for them and my commitment to facilitate change in my community. If other groups were doing what I do when I wanted to do it in 04, I would have signed on, but no one else had a coherent plan. So I jumped in and did what needed to be done. I am the change :)