Current:Home > StocksPennsylvania automatic voter registration boosts sign-ups, but not a political party, data shows -MoneyStream
Pennsylvania automatic voter registration boosts sign-ups, but not a political party, data shows
View
Date:2025-04-13 15:31:53
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — New data from automatic voter registration at Pennsylvania driver’s license centers shows that sign-ups have grown, remain almost evenly divided between the political parties and do not significantly favor one party over another in the presidential battleground state.
The latest data, published Wednesday by Pennsylvania’s elections office, tallies just over four months of new voter registrations since Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the change in September to make it easier for people to register and for counties to manage voter rolls.
It shows about a 45% increase in sign-ups at driver’s license centers compared with those during a similar period two years ago.
It also shows little change in the partisan mix of those registering under the new system, despite accusations by Donald Trump that Democrats would use it to “steal Pennsylvania.”
If anything, the new automatic voter registration system — which is the subject of a lawsuit by Republican lawmakers — has favored the GOP.
Of about 47,300 new voter registrations, 35% chose independent or a third party, 34% opted for Republican and 31% went with Democratic, according to the data. By comparison, during a similar period two years ago, there were about 32,500 new voter registrations, with a breakdown of 35.5% Democratic, 34% independent or a third party and 30.5% Republican.
The state didn’t start publishing the data until recently.
Democrats have a slight registration advantage overall in Pennsylvania, with about 45% of voters to 40% for Republicans, according to state statistics. However, the party’s margin has been shrinking steadily over the past decade.
States began enacting automatic voter registration in 2015, and versions of it have now spread to 24 states and the District of Columbia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Most of those are left-leaning, but they also include Republican-controlled Alaska, Georgia and West Virginia.
Under Pennsylvania’s new system, when people go to a driver’s license center to obtain or renew a license, the computers there generate a prompt that says they will be registered to vote “unless you decline to register.”
Previously users were asked if they wanted to register and had to affirmatively check a box saying “yes.”
States have been required to offer voter registration at driver’s license centers since Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act in 1993.
However, Republicans warned that automatic registration in Pennsylvania would lead to illegal voting. Last week a group of conservative state lawmakers sued in federal court to block it, saying the governor didn’t have the authority to enact it without legislative approval.
Shapiro’s administration has said it had full legal authority under existing state law and already had protections in place to prevent noncitizens or those under age 18 from being offered registration.
Other states that adopted automatic registration, including Republican-controlled Georgia, have reported an increase in registrations and no problems with noncitizens signing up.
___
Follow Marc Levy at twitter.com/timelywriter.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- Luke Fleurs, South African soccer star and Olympian, killed in hijacking at gas station
- Brazil and Colombia see remarkable decrease in forest destruction after leadership changes, data show
- Shop the JoJo Fletcher x Cupshe Irresistible Line of Swimsuits & Festival Wear Before It Sells Out
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Storms, floods cause 1 death, knock down tombstones at West Virginia cemetery
- Horoscopes Today, April 4, 2024
- Ohio teacher should be fired for lying about sick days to attend Nashville concert, board says
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- The Cutest (and Comfiest) Festival Footwear to Wear To Coachella and Stagecoach
Ranking
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Wild video of car trapped in building confuses the internet. It’s a 'Chicago Fire' scene.
- Reese Witherspoon to revive 'Legally Blonde' in Amazon Prime Video series
- Horoscopes Today, April 4, 2024
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Hyper-sexual zombie cicadas that are infected with sexually transmitted fungus expected to emerge this year
- Madonna asks judge to toss lawsuit over late concert start time: Fans got just what they paid for
- Fire outside the Vermont office of Sen. Bernie Sanders causes minor damage
Recommendation
Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
World Central Kitchen boss José Andrés accuses Israel of direct attack on Gaza aid convoy
NBA fines 76ers $100,000 for violating injury reporting rules
Here's how one airline is planning to provide a total eclipse experience — from 30,000 feet in the air
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
Sen. Jacky Rosen places $14 million ad reservation in key Nevada Senate race
What Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello Are Each Getting in Their Divorce
Earthquake centered near New York City rattles much of the Northeast