Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) may find same-day voter registration inefficient, but his son apparently finds it quite convenient.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Matt Walker, a freshman at Marquette University, went to vote in Wauwatosa for the presidential election and registered while at the polls. A witness at the polling place said the governor accompanied his son.
Wisconsin has had same-day registration since 1976. But at a recent speech in California, Walker said he would like to get rid of this law, citing the burden it placed on poll workers.
"States across the country that have same-day registration have real problems because the vast majority of their states have poll workers who are wonderful volunteers, who work 13-hour days and who in most cases are retirees," he said. "It's difficult for them to handle the volume of people who come at the last minute. It'd be much better if registration was done in advance of election day. It'd be easier for our clerks to handle that. All that needs to be done."
Poll workers and election clerks have disputed Walker's characterization of same-day registration, and on Wednesday, he walked back his remarks.
"This is a ridiculous issue. My priority is about jobs, creating jobs," he told reporters. He did not, however, specify whether he would still sign a repeal bill if it came to his desk from the GOP-controlled legislature.
Jocelyn Webster, a Walker spokeswoman, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Walker still believes ending same-day registration would make the electoral process easier for poll workers.
"At the same time, he believes people can and should use any registration opportunity legally available to them, and same-day registration currently is," Webster added. "All this said, the governor has repeatedly said legislation on this issue is not a priority for him. If Matt did register on election day, I think it would highlight that point."
Before You Go
