Voter Registration Day 2020 In Washington: 5 Things To Know

WASHINGTON — Since 2012, National Voter Registration Day, has been celebrated annually on the fourth Tuesday of September. This year, that's this Tuesday, Sept. 22. The day is “a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy,” according to the National Voter Registration Day campaign.

The effort to register as many people to vote as possible has increased during the 2020 election season, which includes a presidential campaign amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

“Voter registration is more important than ever this year,” the organization said in a statement. “This year, we’ll also use the holiday to raise public awareness not only of voter registration options, but also alternative means of voting across the country.”

Here are five things to know about Voter Registration Day, and how you can take part.

1. Has ‘National Voter Registration Day’ worked?

Nearly 3 million voter registrations have been made on the day since it began, the campaign said. More than 300,000 Americans registered to vote on the inaugural day, Sept. 25, 2012, and the number has been gradually increasing ahead of election days ever since, with around 800,000 new registrations recorded on the day in 2018, according to date from the National Day Calendar. In 2019, there were 473,725 voter registrations on National Voter Registration Day, a number the organization said is more than three times the previous record during a year without a federal election.

2. Voter Registration Events Near You

The National Voter Registration Day has a directory of planned events, both in-person and virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, on its website. In Washington, there's just one scheduled at North Seattle College Tuesday.

3. Luckily, Online Registration Is Easy

The lack of in-person registration events in Washington is fine, because online registration is simple in the evergreen state. Washington residents have until October 26 to register online. Any time after that, residents will have to register to vote in person. Online registration can be done here.

4. How To Vote-By-Mail In Washington

More than 80 percent of American voters will have the opportunity to vote-by-mail in the upcoming Nov. 3 election, by far the most in U.S. history. However, Washington has voted by mail for years. All registered voters will automatically receive a ballot in the mail, which must be postmarked or dropped off at a collection point by November 3.

Related: Mail-In Voting In Washington: Deadlines, How To Get A Ballot

5. Know What's On Your Ballot

All eyes will no doubt be on the presidential election, with Republican President Donald Trump seeking re-election against Democratic challenger and former Vice President Joe Biden. But the Nov. 3 election will also feature political races at the state, county and local level in some places. Vote411.org, in addition to offering help with registering to vote, has information on what’s on your ballot.