MADISON (WSAU)   The state elections’ agency says it would cost millions-of-dollars to eliminate voter registrations at the polls on Election Day. The Government Accountability Board says it would cost that agency $5.2-million once the change is made – and almost another $2-million every two years after that. That’s because the same-day registration exempts Wisconsin from federal voter registration laws. If the state system is eliminated, Reid Magney says the Accountability Board would have to send federally-required mailings to voters. And he says same-day registration would not be totally eliminated – because the federal law would still let Wisconsinites register their name-and-address changes at the polls if they had not moved to a new community.

It’s also been reported that Wisconsin would have to adopt a “motor-voter” system, in which people can register at other offices when they apply for a driver’s license or public benefits. Magney says his report does not include what other agencies might have to spend – but that information’s coming.

Governor Scott Walker has said he wants to see an end to Wisconsin’s 36-year-old policy of same-day voter registrations – and two G-O-P lawmakers are seeking sponsors for a bill to make the change.