Same-day success

Democracy has won a fresh vote of confidence in North Carolina. The state House and Senate this week approved a bill that will let residents register to vote and cast their ballots at the same time, in the two-plus weeks before an election (although not on Election Day itself).

The laudable intention is to make it easier for North Carolinians to register their opinions and claim a stake in the governing process. The measure goes next to Governor Easley, who should give it his vote of approval.

Turnout rates, for sure, could use a shot in the arm. In the 2006 general election -- admittedly not a barn-burner here -- only 37 percent of registered-to-vote Tar Heels turned out, and by no means are all eligible adults registered. Was the low turnout because people haven't been able to vote unless they've registered by 25 days before Election Day?

To a degree, maybe yes. At any rate, let's find out.

True, the United States isn't known for 100 percent voter participation, nor should it be. For some people, sitting on their hands on Election Day represents a vote of sorts, and that's their right. But it's equally certain that a democratic government should be built on a broad base. So it makes sense to remove unneeded obstacles to participation.

Today, with computerized cross-checks and careful on-site scrutiny of identification documents -- which the same-day registration/voting process provides -- the odds of fraud are slim. And committing voter fraud will be a felony. Care to risk that just to cast a fake ballot?

In the General Assembly's debate over the bill, Republican objections (fortunately, not all Republicans objected) seemed overblown if not far-fetched -- what's this talk about a Rev. Jim Jones-type herding his instantly registered followers to the polls? And lately there's been a lot more talk of voter fraud than verified examples of it, judging from the State Board of Elections' effective dissection of possible voting irregularities that the state Auditor's Office brought up and then dropped.

Same-day registration and voting simply makes it a bit easier for citizens to fulfill their civic duty. North Carolina, by becoming the first Southern state to allow it, will do democracy proud.