Arguments against automatic voter registration at 18?

[AllyCat]

Today I went into the coffee shop in my town and they have a question of the day that if you get it right, you get a double punch on your frequent buyer card. Today's question was "Who can vote in tomorrow's election?" And my answer was "anyone 18 and older that has not had their voting right legally barred". Got my double punch. He then said he wished more people would vote. I mentioned I supported the idea of automatic voter registration at the age of 18 to remove one hurdle in the process.

He was stunned. He didn't think that would "encourage young people to vote". He thought young people are encouraged by incentives. I asked him to explain. He felt the "I voted" stickers were a major boon to the youth vote.

While I am not opposed to the stickers, are we really at that point? Do we need to get something or recognition in order to vote? Is that important to this demographic?

What is the argument against voter registration being automatic? Besides allowing more people into the process which we will largely agree is a negative for Republicans?

[Mariana]

1. I VOTED stickers were around before "this demographic" was born.

Were you under the impression the stickers are a brand new thing, thought up just to motivate "this demographic"? Someone who wasn't in "this demographic" must have thought it was important enough to implement it decades ago.

[AllyCat]

3. Wasn't me that thought this.

I've been voting for decades and have seen the stickers and not. When I voted first as an 18 year old, I didn't get a sticker and that did not stop me from voting in later elections. This young man seemed to think it was an incentive to vote. I was wondering if this age group really finds this important.

[Mariana]

8. "Are we really at that point?"

"Do we need to get something or recognition in order to vote? Is that important to this demographic?" You asked that in your post. I am answering you.

Who thought it was a good idea, decades ago, to print up stickers and hand them out to voters? Why did they do that? Were we really at that point back then? Did they think it was an incentive to vote? Did that age group really find it important?

[AllyCat]

9. You weren't answering me. You asked me a question that made an assumption

Were you under the impression the stickers are a brand new thing, thought up just to motivate "this demographic"?

No. I was not. I feel that the barista likely was.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. There isn't a valid argument for not automatically enrolling everyone in the voting process...

Yeah, sure the mechanics need to be worked out, but if they already require all 18 year olds to register for the draft, then why not for voting?

[samnsara]

4. I dont think voting should be mandatory

[AllyCat]

6. Just because one is registered to vote does not mean that person is

REQUIRED to vote. I am just talking about automatic registration. Maybe that is what this barista thought I was talking about though.

[malchickiwick]

5. We have automatic voter registration via DMV on the ballot here in NV tomorrow.

The question [5] on the ballot is as follows:

“Shall Chapter 293 of the Nevada Revised Statutes be amended to establish a system that will automatically register an eligible person to vote, or update that person’s existing Nevada voter registration information, at the time the person applies to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles for the issuance or renewal of any type of driver’s license or identification card, or makes a request to change the address on such a license or identification card, unless the person affirmatively declines in writing?"

I'll be a yes, of course.

[backscatter712]

7. Voter registration should be automated in every way possible.

Get your driver's license? You're registered.
Do your tax return? You're registered.
Pay your electric bill? That updates your registration.
Change your address with the US Postal Service? You're registered.
Do anything at all that interacts with government? Update your registration while you're here.

Hell, with the correct tools in place, a voter shouldn't have to actually do anything. When November comes along, his ballot should be ready to go.

All the fighting and bureaucracy about "registering" to vote is GOP-ese for "Are you the kind of person we should allow to vote?"

[Ohiogal]

10. Well said, backscatter712.