RICHMOND, Va. — Since 2022, Virginia voters have been allowed to vote on Election Day even if they missed the Oct. 15 registration deadline.

Twenty states and the District of Columbia allow voters to register on Election Day.

Who exactly benefits from same-day registration changes based on each locality in the Commonwealth?

Richmond City Registrar General Keith Balmer said cities or counties with universities or colleges have seen high usage among younger students.

“Most of them are new voters and, in many cases, they are simply not registered to vote. This is their first experience of the voting process,” Balmer explained.

In 2022, Balmer said Charlottesville (University of Virginia), Harrisonburg (James Madison University) and Montgomery County (Virginia Tech) also had some of the highest percentages of same-day registrations.

According to Registrar General Teri Smithson, Hanover County with Randolph-Macon College, located in the town of Ashland, is an outlier.

“We have citizens who have never voted and who are aged 60 to 80 and who come to register on the electoral lists. Unfortunately, they missed this deadline and therefore proceeded with registrations the same day,” Smithson described.

Voters shared mixed reactions on the legality of same-day registration.

A supporter of former President Donald Trump, who wished to remain anonymous, said voters should take responsibility for missing the Oct. 15 registration deadline. They noted that Virginia offers 45 days of in-person early voting as well as absentee and mail-in ballots.

Caroline Winston supports the idea.

“A lot of people only tune in as the election approaches, and they’re just devastated when they didn’t realize the deadline,” she said. “Don’t think twice about it. It’s your right, and whatever motivated you to feel this way at the last minute is completely acceptable.

John Hicks said his opinion regarding same-day registration was twofold.

“Anything that will get more people to vote needs to happen,” he said. “On the other hand, I like knowing that people who vote have the legal right to vote.”

Smithson said Virginia election officials at the local and statewide level intend to verify that the individual using same-day registration is first a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote in that precinct particular.

Balmer’s office offers a voter guide for college students that lists the residence address and precinct information for each dorm in town.

The guide will be available in all university districts on election day so those who register on the day can be sure their vote will be counted.

Polls in Virginia are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

You will still be allowed to vote on Election Day if you get in line on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

CBS 6 is committed to sharing community voices on this important topic. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom.

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