To Be Heard, You Must Show Up: Register to Vote
September 22 is National Voter Registration Day; a day to remind Americans the importance of our civic responsibility to register to vote, show up at the polls on Election Day and have our voices heard. Yet, every year millions of Americans find themselves unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline, don’t update their registration or aren’t sure how to register. But registering to vote is just half of it. Nearly 60 percent of Americans don’t vote at all during midterm elections, even if they have registered. It's time to change this statistic -- it begins with you. Register to vote and show up! Then get all of your friends, family members, coworkers and teammates to register and show up too.
What’s happening in our government – at local, state and federal levels – affects us all. As a supporter of United Way of Central Indiana you can join the fight to raise awareness, generate conversations and promote solutions that create lasting, positive change for everyone in our community. “Voting isn’t only about showing up in presidential election years, or turning out for marquee for senator, congressperson or governor. Local races, such as city council, school board and prosecutor have a tremendous role in our day to day lives,” says Julie Singer, Chair of United Way of Central Indiana Emerging Leaders. “Ballot referendum, on topics ranging from mass transit to school funding, impacts economic vitality and opportunity for our community and its citizens. Voting, from top to bottom of the ballot, means deciding what we want from and for our community.”
If there is something that matters to you in our community – or at any level of government – SHOW UP.
If you haven’t voted in a while, recently moved, gotten married or turned 18, use National Voter Registration Day to take a few minutes to visit the Indiana Voter Portal. You can verify your status, find your polling place and see who is on the ballot in less than five minutes. Once you're registered to vote, tell your friends, family and co-workers. Make sure they are too. The final step is the most important.
To be heard you must show up. Show up. Don’t be part of the two-thirds of Americans who stay home on election day.