Madison, WI – Democracy thrives when every eligible voter participates, and 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.
On Tuesday, September 20, Community Shares of Wisconsin members will participate in National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan holiday which celebrates our country’s democracy and helps encourage every eligible American to register to vote.
With the election just weeks away, all Wisconsin voters are encouraged to check their registration status at myvote.wi.gov. This is especially important if you’re a first-time voter, moved recently, haven’t voted in a while, or if you haven’t voted since having your voting rights restored after completing a felony sentence.
According to 2020 post-election U.S. Census data, as many as one in four eligible voters in the country were not registered or weren’t sure. For groups already underrepresented in the electorate such as youth and communities of color, the numbers were even more stark; In Dane County it is estimated only 10.5% of 18 year-olds are registered to vote, less than 60% of potential voters aged 18 to 24 report being registered to vote, and registration rates in communities of color lag significantly behind the general electorate.
Founded in 2012, National Voter Registration Day is designed to create an annual moment when the entire nation focuses on registering Americans to exercise their most basic right – the right to vote. Nearly 4.5 million Americans have registered to vote on the holiday since the inaugural National Voter Registration Day.
Communities across the country, in all 50 states and D.C., are planning to use National Voter Registration Day to get registered and get #VoteReady. 2022 marks National Voter Registration Day’s 10th anniversary, and the effort’s website, NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org, provides a listing of virtual and in-person events across the country.
Since 1971, Community Shares of Wisconsin and its members have worked together to advance social justice and protect the environment in Wisconsin. Together they envision a future where people come together to ensure every member of their community is safe, healthy, and able to thrive.
