HB5906, the Same Day Registration Act of 2025, would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require every state to allow eligible individuals to register to vote on the same day they vote in federal elections, including during early voting periods. The bill also allows already-registered voters to update their registration information at the polling place on those days. The requirement would apply to federal elections beginning with the regularly scheduled general election in November 2026 and all later federal elections.
The bill includes an exception for states that, under a state law continuously in effect since enactment, do not require voter registration for federal elections at all. It also makes conforming changes to HAVA’s enforcement provisions and table of contents so the new same-day registration section is incorporated into the statute. In practical terms, the bill would create a nationwide federal baseline for same-day registration in states that still use voter registration for federal elections.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would preempt contrary state election procedures by requiring states to offer same-day voter registration and registration updates at polling places for federal elections, subject to the no-registration-state exception. It would amend Title III of the Help America Vote Act and expand the scope of federal enforcement under HAVA, affecting state election administrators, polling-place operations, voter registration systems, and eligible voters seeking to register or correct their information on Election Day or during early voting.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the House Committee on House Administration, with no recorded votes or committee transcript excerpts provided. Based on the bill’s sponsorship and subject matter, it appears to be a voting-access measure intended to expand participation, but the provided materials do not include direct debate or formal committee sentiment. As a result, the only clear procedural posture is that the bill was introduced by a group of Democratic sponsors and had not advanced beyond referral at the time of the record.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the federal requirement that states provide same-day registration for federal elections, which could be viewed by supporters as a voter-access and modernization measure and by opponents as a federal intrusion into state election administration. Another possible issue is the operational burden on states and local election officials, including verification, staffing, and polling-place logistics. The bill’s exception for states without voter-registration requirements may also be relevant, since it preserves existing no-registration systems while still imposing a nationwide rule on states that do require registration.
Same Day Registration Act of 2023 This bill requires states with a voter registration requirement to make same-day voter registration available at the polling place on any day voting is permitted.