Statement by National NOW President Christian F. Nunes
September 17 is Voter Registration Day, America’s largest nonpartisan civic holiday–dedicated to celebrating our democracy and activating citizens.
Since it began in 2012, National Voter Registration Day has worked to get over 5 million Americans registered to vote. Groups like NOW, community and neighborhood organizations, public figures, and local governments all mobilize on a Tuesday in September to encourage voter registration.
Partners include public libraries, neighborhood food pantries, college campuses, fire departments, and service organizations—everyone who is part of a community and has a stake in that community’s success.
We know that voting and a healthy democracy are key to building a healthy future—for everyone. In recent weeks, we’ve seen a surge in voter registration, with more than 400,000 people going to Vote.gov in the 24 hours following a post by Taylor Swift calling on her fans to register.
Go to Vote.gov to see when the deadline for voter registration is in your state, and how to register in time.
Today we can build on this historic start and break more registration records—but that’s not all.
It’s important to remember that not everyone who registers to vote will turn out on Election Day. In fact, before the 2022 election, 40% of Gen Z voters told Harvard’s Institute of Politics that they intended to vote, but the actual turnout was 23%.
Let’s make this Voter Registration Day the beginning—not the end—of a conversation that will last from now until Election Day. Here’s some insight from 19 women in the news on why voting is so important, and here’s a social media toolkit for National Voter Registration Day, and beyond.
And in honor of today, the Broadway cast of Hamilton recorded “The Election of 2024.” Check it out!