National Voter Registration Day: Be Vote-Ready In SJC

CALIFORNIA — While the 2020 presidential election saw record voter turnout in the United States, nearly 1 in 4 eligible Americans still aren’t registered to vote. A single day in September hopes to change that in California.

National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 28 this year. Observed since 2012, this nonpartisan civic holiday helps reach tens of thousands of voters who may not otherwise register.

In 2020 and with the help of more than 5,000 community partners, more than 1.5 million eligible voters registered on National Voter Registration Day.

This year’s voter registration drive comes during a crucial period in American democracy.

Nearly 1 in 5 states passed restrictive election laws following the 2020 presidential election that tighten absentee voting windows and impose new rules around casting ballots and running elections.

Still, with the right knowledge and a bit of preparation and planning, registering to vote can still be an easy, seamless process.

Here’s what you need to know about National Voter Registration Day and how to register in California:

What Is National Voter Registration Day?

National Voter Registration Day is a coordinated effort by communities, workplaces, libraries, college campuses and other entities across the country, all of which share a common goal — to raise awareness of voter registration opportunities in their communities.

Events are planned across the country to mark the day.

Does National Voter Registration Day actually work?

Nearly 4.5 million voters have registered since the event’s inception, according to the campaign’s website. More than 300,000 Americans registered to vote on the inaugural National Voter Registration Day in 2012. In 2019, 473,725 people registered to vote before that number skyrocketed to 1.5 million in 2020.

How have election laws changed in California?

Following the 2020 election, nine states passed legislation that sponsors say improves election security. Critics, however, say the legislation makes it harder for people to vote.

In Kansas, one law effectively shuts down voter registration drives by making it a felony to impersonate an election official, according to a National Public Radio report, a standard that could depend entirely on impressions. In Montana, state lawmakers eliminated Election Day voter registration.

In California, voting laws have not changed.

How do I register to vote in California?

Registering to vote in California is simple. Golden State residents can register to vote online through the Secretary of State's website. All they need to register is your California driver license or California identification card number, the last four digits of your social security number and your date of birth.

Orange County residents can also register to vote through OC Vote by visiting their website.

You can also register to vote directly on National Voter Registration Day’s website.

Know election deadlines in California.

Less than one-third of people who voted in the 2020 presidential election did so in person after states expanded mail-in balloting and early voting due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

In fact, 2020 was the first time in the history of the survey that a majority of voters did not cast their ballots in person on Election Day.

While new laws may have changed the landscape of mail-in voting, it’s important to know when you need to register by, as well as other key election deadlines in California.

• Statewide Direct Primary Election, June 7, 2022
• Voter registration deadline: May 23, 2022
• Mail-in ballots deadline: Ballots must arrive by May 31, 2022

For information on regularly scheduled elections across Orange County, visit OC Vote's website.