SRES-353-116
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5760; text: CR S5756)
Sponsored by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
What it does
This resolution recognizes September 24, 2019, as "National Voter Registration Day." It encourages voting-eligible U.S. citizens to register to vote, verify that their registration information is current with state or local election officials, and go to the polls on election day if they choose. The resolution has no binding legal effect and creates no new law, program, or spending.
Who benefits
Unregistered but eligible voters who may be prompted to register. State and local election officials who benefit from higher registration rates and more predictable voter rolls. Civic organizations that run voter registration drives, as the Senate's recognition lends visibility to their efforts. Political parties and candidates broadly, as higher registration rates can affect turnout.
Who is hurt
No group is directly harmed by this resolution. There are no mandates, spending changes, or regulatory effects. Some may object on philosophical grounds to the federal government encouraging a particular civic behavior, but no measurable burden is imposed on any individual or organization.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that voter registration rates in the United States lag behind other democracies, and that symbolic federal recognition of a dedicated registration day helps raise public awareness at a critical moment before elections. They contend that encouraging eligible citizens to verify and update their registration reduces administrative errors — such as outdated addresses — that can prevent eligible voters from casting ballots on election day.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that a Senate resolution carries no legal weight and amounts to little more than a symbolic gesture that consumes legislative time without producing measurable policy outcomes. They contend that voter registration and election administration are constitutionally reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment, and that even non-binding federal encouragement in this area represents an incremental federal encroachment into a domain traditionally managed at the state and local level.