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H.R. 1044House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Same Day Registration Act of 2017

Sponsored by Keith EllisonRep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Introduced February 14, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:38 PM UTC

The Same Day Registration Act of 2017 amends the Help America Vote Act to require every state to let eligible voters register and vote on the same day they cast a ballot in federal elections, including early voting periods. It sets a deadline for states to comply by the November 2018 general election and defines an exception for states that already have no voter‑registration requirement for federal offices.

Key Provisions

  • States must allow any eligible individual to register to vote at the polling place on election day or any day early voting is allowed, and to vote immediately after registering.
  • The rule does not apply to states that already have no voter‑registration requirement for federal elections.
  • The term “eligible individual” means anyone who meets the usual qualifications to vote in a federal election.
  • States must meet these requirements for the 2018 general election and all subsequent federal elections; the bill also updates section numbers and the table of contents in the Help America Vote Act.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

February 14, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 14, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

February 14, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 14, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1044

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 14, 2017

Mr. Ellison (for himself and Mr. Blumenauer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

A BILL

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require States to provide for same day registration.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Same Day Registration Act of 2017.

2.

Same day registration

(a)

In general

Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 and 306, respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after section 303 the following new section:

304.

Same day registration

(a)

In general

(1)

Registration

Notwithstanding section 8(a)(1)(D) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)(D)), each State shall permit any eligible individual on the day of a Federal election and on any day when voting, including early voting, is permitted for a Federal election—

(A)

to register to vote in such election at the polling place using a form that meets the requirements under section 9(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (or, if the individual is already registered to vote, to revise any of the individual's voter registration information); and

(B)

to cast a vote in such election.

(2)

Exception

The requirements under paragraph (1) shall not apply to a State in which, under a State law in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of this section, there is no voter registration requirement for individuals in the State with respect to elections for Federal office.

(b)

Eligible individual

For purposes of this section, the term eligible individual means, with respect to any election for Federal office, an individual who is otherwise qualified to vote in that election.

(c)

Effective date

Each State shall be required to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) for the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office occurring in November 2018 and for any subsequent election for Federal office.

.

(b)

Conforming amendment relating to enforcement

Section 401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking and 303 and inserting 303, and 304.

(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents of such Act is amended—

(1)

by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 305 as relating to sections 305 and 306, respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new item:

Sec. 304. Same day registration.

.