Massachusetts voters will decide in November whether to allow eligible residents to register to vote at their polling place on Election Day, a change supporters say could make it easier for people who move frequently, including renters and students, to participate in elections. Question 4 would take effect Jan. 1, 2028. Under current law, voters generally must register at least 10 days before an election. The proposal would change that deadline only for Election Day; it would not create same-day registration throughout the rest of the election season. To register at the polls, a person would need to show proof of residence and sign an oath affirming that they are a U.S. citizen, at least 18, legally eligible to vote and not voting elsewhere in the same election. Accepted documents could include a photo ID showing a current address, a utility bill, bank statement, lease, paycheck or student fee statement. Voters who lack acceptable proof at the polling place could cast a provisional ballot. To have it counted, they would need to provide the required documents by the applicable deadline: by the close of polls for a municipal election, within two days for a state primary or within six days for a state election. Supporters say the change would give more eligible residents a chance to vote. Norma Shulman, who wrote the arguments supporting Question 4 for the state’s election handout, said the policy could give thousands of citizens the opportunity to participate in national elections. Massachusetts is currently the only New England state without same-day voter registration, according to the proposal’s supporters. The measure has backing from voting rights organizations including MassVote, Common Cause Massachusetts and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin, the state’s chief elections official, filed the petition. There is no formal opposition campaign, but Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale argued against Question 4 in the state’s election handout. She said election workers would face time pressure verifying voters’ eligibility and that removing the advance registration period could weaken election safeguards. State Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch, a Wellesley Democrat and former town clerk, raised concerns about lines and staffing. She said same-day registration could take longer than voting for people already registered, potentially discouraging voters who cannot wait. If approved, the proposal would require registrants to acknowledge that providing false information carries criminal penalties. The oath would warn that the offense is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.