(KTTC) – Tuesday is the largest single-day voter registration drive in the United States. With the general election less than two months away, National Voter Registration Day is an effort to prepare all eligible Americans to vote in the 2024 November election.
According to election officials, the country has seen an increase in overall voter registration in the past few election cycles. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said this is normal, mainly because it is a presidential election year.
“There’s no question in my mind that people feel strongly about this particular election,” he said. “They feel strongly about the candidates one way or another: strong like and strong dislike.”
Simon explained Minnesota is maintaining its number one spot in terms of voter registration. Iowa on the other hand still ranks in the top five; however, its Secretary of State Paul Pate added the Hawkeye State’s numbers are slightly down.
“During COVID, we saw a serious uptick of a lot more people registered to vote,” he said. “And then after that, they either lost interest, or they moved, or there’s been some other attrition.”
Both states expect a high voter turnout during the general election. “It’s not just that people feel strongly or intensely about particular candidates,” Simon said. “It’s that there’s a perception at the top of the ballot that it’s a close contest.”
Considering the higher interest, Olmsted County Associate Director of Property Records and Licensing Luke Turner shared voter registration closer to home is trending up. He said, “We’re at about 103,000 registered voters currently. We’ve had a steady increase year by year throughout the whole process.”
Simon added there is a common misconception that registering to vote is complicated. He said, “It really is just about showing that you are who you say you are, and you live where you say you live.”
“Some will say, ‘Election’s not till November. What’s the big deal?’ I’d like to make sure we make it as stress free as possible for you, so waiting to the last second may not be ideal for you.”
Starting Friday, September 20, eligible Minnesotans can vote absentee for the November 5 general election. During this 46-day period, you can cast your absentee vote by mail, in-person, or direct balloting.
For more information on absentee voting in Minnesota, visit Olmsted County’s website. For more information on absentee voting in Iowa, visit the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.
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Publish date : 2024-09-16 13:06:00
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