The story says that the registration was made on the last day “the board was required to receive and process voter registration applications to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 6, 2012 general election.”
Do you think maybe they had a crush of application?
They do allow you to register on-line.
https://www.dcboee.org/voter_info/register_to_vote/ovr_step1.asp
That close to the election I bet a lot of things slid.
Dog ate the homework?
Usually by 2nd grade that excuse is not allowed.
So there is either corruption or incompetence or (more likely) both. All are a problem and need to be vetted to secure the integrity of the system.