Sept. 17, 2024 marks National Voter Registration Day in the United States. Described as a “non-partisan civic holiday” dedicated to celebrating our democracy, this holiday raises questions for students who still need to register to vote and emphasizes why voting is important for democracy.
According to the U.S. Department of State, on the webpage titled “Human Rights and Democracy,” the upkeep and support of democracy entails protecting religious freedom and security for all, as well as upholding human, environmental and worker rights.
Every citizen 18 years or older and free of a felony conviction in the U.S. has the right to vote and safeguard democracy. This ordinance gives a voice to each citizen, and Moorpark College students are no exception.
Students are the future leaders and innovators of the country and have the power and intelligence to make a difference through voting. According to the Campus Vote Project website, “young adults have voted at lower rates than older cohorts” historically. However, there has been an “increase in voting from Millennials and Gen-Z from 2012 to 2016” and in ongoing elections. This indicates that students are beginning to recognize the importance of their votes and are making their voices count in elections more and more.
If a student hasn’t registered to vote, there’s no need to worry. This guide will provide a brief yet comprehensive overview of how students can easily register to vote from the comfort of their own homes.
Step One:
It is recommended to use a laptop when registering, but using a phone is also acceptable. Students may use their preferred browser; however, this guide will use Google.
Students should search for vote.gov. They will then be directed to the website as shown in the photo below.
Step Two:
Once students reach the vote.gov homepage, they need to click on the button central to the graphic that says, “Select your state or territory to begin.” Then, they will be directed to a screen where they can select the state they are currently residing in.
Step Three:
After students select their state, they will be redirected to another page containing a link where they can find information about voting locations in their location. In this case, the state will be California.
Students will need to click on the blue outlined link that says, “Start or update your registration online.” This will direct them to a new page where they can choose to register to vote now. If the student is under 18, they can choose to pre-register instead.
Step Four:
Students are almost finished registering by this point. They need to fill out the information on the forms after clicking the link. Once they’re ready, they can submit it.
Once students have completed the forms and turned them in, they will receive a voter registration card in the mail. According to usa.gov, it may take a few weeks for a new voter to receive their card, but the student is now recognized as a registered voter.
The “Voter Registration” webpage of the Ventura County Community College District stresses that “registered voters in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 2024 election,” and the distribution of the ballots will commence at the beginning of early voting in Ventura County.
Every voice matters, and according to the Every Vote Counts website, “voting rights serve as the bedrock of our democracy, with voting representing the fundamental ‘operating system’ of the American republic.” In each election year, college students have the opportunity to magnify their influence and protect democracy within the nation through voting.
