Get registered, get the facts, get stoked to vote

Editor,

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and a diverse array of public education and voting rights groups are coming together to register as many eligible New Mexicans as possible for this important occasion.

New Mexico has a voter registration crisis, as more than 250,000 eligible voters are not registered to vote. The events happening today in Albuquerque seek to lower this number by registering new voters, updating registrations and informing New Mexicans about the importance of voting in local, state and national elections.

Two simultaneous events will take place today on the main campuses of UNM and CNM. The Albuquerque events are part of National Voter Registration Day activities organized by individuals and organizations across the nation. There will be voting registrars on hand at both UNM and CNM who will be registering new voters and updating existing registrations. The events will also include food, music, a live Skype discussion with actress and voting rights advocate Rosario Dawson and information from the participating organizations about Election Day, voting rights and volunteer opportunities in New Mexico.

The participating organizations in these events include New Mexico Vote Matters, the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, Common Cause New Mexico, the Native American Voters Alliance, Voto Latino, Nuestra Elección, NMPIRG, the UNM and CNM Dream teams, UNM MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlán) and others.

Voting is our most fundamental American right, yet too many eligible voters are not registered and therefore do not vote on Election Day. Young people, unmarried women and people of color — what is known as the Rising American Electorate — are all particularly underrepresented at polls across America.

As the old saying goes, “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”

Voting brings us all together as Americans. It’s the one time that we all have the same say and can all participate equally in our democracy. The act of voting determines the future of our country yet, sadly, not enough of us make our voices heard on Election Day.

The National Voter Registration Day events today are a chance to learn more about how to participate in the voting process. Voting is simple and easy once you’re registered and know where to vote.

So come out to UNM or CNM today, have some fun, have some food and make your voice heard.

Alex Curtas
Daily Lobo reader