The midterm elections are on November 6 — and if you didn’t know that, write it down, mark it on your phone calendar, get it tattooed on your body if you have to. With today being National Voter Registration Day in the U.S., we wanted to remind you, dear readers, to register to vote.
We won’t go into why it’s important — because, well, that’s easy.
It’s your right, and more so your responsibility, whichever party you support. To register to vote is to hold leaders accountable for the work they’ve done (or haven’t done) for the American people, and what they have yet to do. (Ok, we went into it.)
As Michelle Obama said at an event for the nonprofit When We All Vote, “Not voting is like letting your grandma pick your clothes out.” Why would you let your grandma decide how you represent the values that make you, you?
Stephanie Young, spokesperson for When We All Vote, told Good Morning America that people are “more inclined to listen to people that they know and trust.” Therefore, it’s a good idea to spread the word.
On this National Voter Registration Day, we’re giving you a handful of useful resources for staying informed and proactive before November 6.
First thing’s first: Check your registration status
Not sure if you’ve registered to vote? You can check your registration status on a number of different sites.
One such site is located on theSkimm, which has started the No Excuses campaign for voting. On the No Excuses landing page, you’ll see this graphic:
Just click on the “Can’t remember?” option and enter your name, birthday and address.
I tested this out and it took under 10 seconds (no lie).
Even if you’re sure that you are registered, it’s always good to double (or triple) check.
Deadline to register to vote for the general election
The deadline to register to vote in the midterms differs per state. For example, this year in New Jersey, it’s October 16. In New York, it’s October 12.
To check your state’s voter registration deadline, visit the No Excuses website. Registering is as easy as filling out a form online — and according to Rock The Vote, it takes two minutes or less, on average.
Check your state rules
Some states don’t require you to bring an ID to the polls. Some do.
Check rockthevote.org to see the ID requirements for your state. You can also use this site to find out if your state offers opportunities to vote early (ex. Illinois) and what the requirements are for absentee voting or VBM (vote by mail). College students especially should be looking into absentee voting if they’re out-of-state.
Just click on the “State Information” tab under the “Get Ready to Vote” drop down menu and enter the appropriate state you’re registered in (or are about to register in). You’ll then be prompted with a list of guidelines.
Note: When I checked my registration status on theSkimm, it also gave me an option to click through to Rock The Vote to find out state info.
More resources to look over long after National Voter Registration Day
The nonpartisan campaign No Excuses, from theSkimm, aims to get 100,000 people to the polls for the midterms. The campaign website is full of information about important dates. It lets you add election day to your Google or Apple calendar, gives you explainers on important issues and provides sharable links to help spread the word. To access the No Excuses campaign website, click through to theskimm.com/noexcuses.
When We All Vote (whenweallvote.org), the nonprofit co-chaired by former First Lady Michelle Obama, has a ton of similar resources as well. To register to vote, text WeAllVote to 97779 (it’ll ask you for your ZIP Code and name).
As mentioned above, Rock The Vote works to help voters get the information they need. In addition to the tools discussed, rockthevote.org also has a handy FAQ page with answers to questions like “Do I need to re-register if I’ve moved?” and “I know someone who’s mentally impaired/disabled. Can they vote?”
Other places you can visit include the National Voter Registration Day website at nationalvoterregistrationday.org as well as Vote.org.
For any questions, or to report problems at the polls, call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683.
