Candidates for Registrar of Voters

Candidates for Registrar of Voters

Four-Year Term

Question for the candidates (80-word limit):

Do you support Election Day Registration? What advantages and/or problems do you foresee in instituting such a process?

Roger V. Autuori (Republican)

The Election Day Registration (EDR) Act takes effect for the next municipal election in 2013. The Act has logistical problems.

There are problems where the EDR registration will take place. If at the polls there is no direct connection with the State voter registration system. If at Town Hall, where there are connections, most Registrars offices are not large enough to handle voters casting ballots. The Secretary of the State is currently working on regulations to implement this act.

Matt Waggner (Democratic)

Even the most reliable voters know little about election law. Innocent registration mistakes disenfranchise some voters, while those erroneously voting at former polling places distort the outcome of close elections. Election Day Registration (EDR) will increase participation and the integrity of our elections, and I am a strong supporter.

To prepare, I’ve worked to better identify and pre-register new residents, movers, and students, and successfully advocated for improvements to Connecticut's policy.

My legislative testimony on EDR is available at: http://tinyurl.com/mw-rov.