Registering to vote is easier than ever. But Northwest residents don’t appear as eager to vote as they were during the last presidential election. As the deadline to register draws near, state figures show a smaller uptick in voter registration than in 2008.
Presidential elections tend to spur an increase in the number of registered voters. Young people who've never signed up before or people who let their registration lapse figure it's a good time to sign that voter registration card.
Or nowadays, register with just a few clicks of the mouse or taps on the smartphone. Online registration wasn't even available four years ago, but state registration stats in Washington and Oregon show that fewer people are signing up to vote this year compared to 2008. Idaho didn't track monthly registration totals back then.
To be clear, overall voter registration totals are up in all three states. The numbers just aren't increasing as fast as they were during the last presidential election.
According to the Pew Research Center, the Northwest numbers mirror a national trend. Pew says the disengagement is especially pronounced among young adults.
Voter registration deadlines:
Oregon: October 16
Washington: October 29
Idaho: October 12
Idaho residents can also register at the polls on Election Day.
Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network
