Defend democracy: Take part in National Voter Registration Day

Happy National Voter Registration Day! Tuesday, Sept. 24 is a nationwide holiday in the United States that celebrates our democracy. First observed in 2012, National Voter Registration Day has grown each year as a way to celebrate and protect our most important American right.

Why do we need National Voter Registration Day? Robust voter turnout is fundamental to a healthy democracy. But in the United States, turnout is lower than most established democracies. National Voter Registration Day creates awareness and aims to reach voters who may not otherwise register.

As our state’s pre-eminent voting rights organization, we also are emphasizing the importance of voting. If we want long-term, meaningful change on the issues that matter, we must first stand up for our most basic, most precious right. It’s important as many people as possible understand how to register, how to sign up for election reminders, how to check their registration, how to get mail ballots if they choose, and to learn about early voting.

How you can take part

First and foremost, register to vote online. If you’re a Nebraska voter, it takes about five minutes.

Each election year, numbers of Nebraskans have been unable to cast ballots because they missed a registration deadline, neglected to update their registration, or weren’t sure how to get registered in the first place. Our goal is to eliminate those concerns. In 2014, Civic Nebraska advocated for, and successfully saw the implementation of, online voter registration in our state.

If you are at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the state, you are eligible to vote in Nebraska. If you are a citizen who has successfully completed a felony sentence and are at the end of the mandatory two-year waiting period after that successful completion, you also can re-register to vote.

Already registered?

Great. Participate in National Voter Registration Day by double-checking your status. Again, if you have changed addresses or changed your name since the last time you voted, you will have to update your registration. There are no exceptions. Check your status here.

What’s next?

Two things. First, you can share this post with friends, family, and loved ones. By reminding them to get (or remain) registered, you are contributing to a national day of civic unity, where we can set aside our differences to celebrate our most important right.

Second, there’s plenty of time for your personal information to change between now and next spring. So bookmark this page today as a reminder next spring to check your registration, or update it if necessary, in time for the 2020 elections.

Need more than a bookmark to keep this top of mind? Vote.org sends reminder texts and/or emails. Sign up for reminders here.

For more information

There are many resources online about casting your ballot. Below are some links that help you understand your right to vote, help you to register to vote, explain how to find your polling place, and keep a national eye on issues related to voting. Of course, if you have any other questions about voting in Nebraska, please don’t hesitate to let us know.