(Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash)
Today is National Voter Registration Day in the United States. The United States does not have the greatest participation in elections, so it’s good to have a day to focus on this.
Some things you can do today:
Registration: If you are not registered, it’s a great day to do it! The National Voter Registration Day site has a page which links you to the proper procedure to register in your state or to update a registration if you’ve had a name or address change. You can also check out your local election office. When searching, look for web addresses that end in .gov. Do NOT visit VoteSafe! It is a scam that will take and sell your information and will not give you accurate voting information.
Plan to Vote: If you are registered and have checked to make sure that your registration is accurate, make a plan to vote. Depending on your state, you may receive or request a ballot be sent through the mail which can then be filled out and mailed back or dropped off at an election office, dropbox, or polling place. You might have in-person early voting in a centralized location in the days or weeks leading up to election day. You might want to vote in person at your precinct’s polling place on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 3 in 2026. For in-person voting, whether early or on Election Day, double-check on your polling location and hours.
For example, I know that I will be out of the state on Election Day, so I have already put in a request with my county’s election office to have a ballot mailed to me. I plan to fill it out, carefully following all the instructions, and bring it in person to the election office before I leave town. If I’m not well enough to bring it in person, I will put it in the mail but weeks early to avoid possible mail slowdowns.
Community Outreach: Encourage others to register and/or make their own plans to vote. See if you can help at a registration drive. Let people know that voting is important for our democracy. Offer help to anyone who might have a barrier to voting, such as a need for transportation, computer help searching for official election information, caregiving responsibilities, etc.
In many other democracies, registration is automatic and voting is mandatory. The United States makes things much more complicated and our participation rate bears that out. For our democracy to function better, we need to hear from everyone through our free speech rights and from citizens through their votes in local, state, and national races and referenda.
Please share your experiences with registering and voting in the United States or in democracies throughout the world in the comments here and/or at whatever opportunity presents itself. Let’s make our voices heard!
Joanne Corey 