We have analyzed the likely impact on voter turnout should West Virginia
adopt Same Day Registration (SDR).1 Under a system proposed2 in West Virginia, eligi- ble voters who miss the current deadline for reg- istering may be able to register to vote during the state’s 17-day early voting period.3 The availabili-
ty of Same Day Registration procedures should give voters who have not previously registered the op- portunity to vote. Consistent with existing research on the impact of SDR in the other states that use this process, we find that SDR would likely lead to substantial increases in voter turnout. We offer the following voter turnout estimates for West Virgin- ia under SDR:4
Overall turnout could go up by 4.1 percent.
Turnout among those aged 18 to 25 could increase by 8.3 percent.
Turnout for those who have moved in the last six months could increase by 6.5 percent.
