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Rules Committee backs same-day voter registration for municipal off-year elections
Summary
The Rules Committee agreed to send a charter amendment forward allowing same-day (election-day) voter registration for San Francisco municipal off-year elections only, citing turnout gains in states with similar policies and parallel state-level efforts.
Supervisor Mercurimi introduced Item 3 on July 12, proposing charter language to permit same-day voter registration for municipal off-year elections only. He said the Department of Elections supports the concept and that states that have adopted election-day registration have seen turnout increases of 3% to more than 6% in some cases.
Mercurimi noted the measure would not apply to statewide elections and described a two-front approach: municipal reform at the city level coupled with state-level efforts led by state Senator Leland Yee. He said the city’s historical support for a similar idea (Proposition 52 in 2002) suggested local appetite for the reform.
A public speaker voiced support; supervisors including Eric Marr praised the proposal as an equity measure likely to benefit neighborhoods with low turnout. The committee voted to move Item 3 to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive committee recommendation.
Action and next steps: Item 3 will be transmitted to the full board with a positive recommendation; the committee requested city-attorney language and any needed technical edits before final Board consideration.
