MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - Democrats and some of their top supporters will hold a news conference in Milwaukee Wednesday to urge Republicans not to take away same-day voter registration at the polls.

Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee Election Commission chief Neil Albrecht, state Assembly Democrat Jon Richards will be among those appearing at a Milwaukee Baptist church.

Labor, religious, and advocacy group leaders will join the officials. And they’re hoping that other local government clerks and election officials will fight to keep same-day registration.

Republican Governor Scott Walker recently said he would favor dropping the 36-year-old policy, saying it puts too much of a burden on poll workers who are mostly retired. Other GOP leaders say it encourages voter fraud – and some Republicans have said over the years that same-day registration helps Democrats.

After his initial remarks raised criticisms, Walker said he would not make repealing same-day registration a top priority – and he said people were making too much of what he said at first.

If Wisconsin scraps same-day registration, it would have to pay to create a motor-voter system that allows registrations where people sign up for driver’s licenses and public benefits.