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Monthly Spotlight: Register to Vote

National Voter Registration Day

  1. Every vote DOES count
    1. There is power in numbers
    2. Many elections are decided by less than 100 votes
    3. You send a message by what candidate or party you vote for. Even if your candidate doesn’t win, the number of votes they do get impacts what’s decided by the government.
    4. Just how close the vote is changes who might run and win the next time.
  2. Don't let others decide for you
    1. If you don't vote, you are letting others decide who wins and what issues matter
  3. Honor our history and the right to vote
    1. Voting is one of the most important rights of a citizen
  4. It's easier than you think
    1. It has actually gotten easier in recent years, including having early voting, absentee votes, or mail-in voting
    2. When you do it once, you'll find it easier every time after
  5. It gets the attention of candidates
    1. Candidates and campaigns generally pay close attention to communities with high voter registration and turnout rates.
    2. Office holders notice who turns out to vote. As a result, communities with high turnout have better access to elected officials, increased clout, and are in a better position to raise awareness about their issues.
  6. Creates a community of life-long voters
    1. A registered voter is a likely voter.
    2. More than 8 of 10 registered voters turn out to vote in a presidential election.
      1. Because voting is habit-forming, helping someone register and reminding them to vote in one election can dramatically increase the likelihood that they’ll vote in future elections.

Information from Mentoring.org and Nonprofitvote.org

To vote in Iowa, you have to be registered to vote. To qualify for registration, you must be:

  • A U.S. citizen
  • An Iowa Resident
  • At least 17 years old. 
    • A person may vote if they will be 18 years old on or before election day.
    • In the case of primary elections, a person may vote if they will be 18 years old on or before the corresponding regular election.

 Reasons to be unable to vote:

  • Be a convicted felon (unless your voting rights have been restored)
  • Be judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court
  • Claim the right to vote in any other place.

Registration:

If you have more questions or would like to have a video walk-through of how to register visit SOS.IOWA.GOV

  • Completed voter registrations may be mailed to your county auditor and must be received by 5:00 p.m. CT or postmarked fifteen days prior to the election.
  • Registrations submitted online must be completed at or before 11:59 p.m. CT fifteen days prior to the election.
  • When pre-registering to vote at your county auditor’s office or by mail, you’ll need either your driver’s license, non-operator ID, or to know the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
  • Any voter who is not registered on or before October 24 may still register and vote by providing proof of identity and residence.
    • This is called Election Day Registration, even if it’s done during in-person absentee voting at your county auditor’s office or at the polling place on Election Day.
  • North Dakota is the only state that doesn't require registration to vote
  • Most state and federal courts identify potential jurors from state tax records, driver’s license information, and voter registration rolls.
    • Don’t give up your chance to vote just to avoid jury duty – because chances are you’ll get called anyway!
  • There are at least 51 million Americans (2018) who are not registered to vote.
    • That is roughly one-quarter of the people who are eligible to vote in the United States. Consider the power we would have to make the changes we need in our communities if everyone was registered to vote!
  • Updating and verifying your registration is key
    • Transient populations, including young people, and antiquated processes like using paper forms continue to serve as barriers to registering.
    • If you have not voted in a while or just want to make sure you are registered, use this opportunity to check your registration so that you can participate in the next election in your city or state.

Information gathered from Vote Ready Iowa, US Vote Foundation, and Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.