This week, NLIHC’s Our Homes, Our Votes campaign celebrated National Voter Education Week, a nonpartisan voter education initiative that equips voters with the tools and information they need to cast their ballots with confidence. National Voter Education Week began on Monday, October 2, and concludes today (Friday, October 6).
National Voter Education Week encourages voters to take five steps to ensure they are prepared to cast their ballots:
- Register to vote or check your voter registration status. NLIHC encourages all housing advocates to register or confirm that their voter registration status is up to date. It’s especially important to check and update your voter registration if you have recently moved or changed your name.
- Request your mail-in ballot if you are eligible. Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about mail-in voting and request your mail-in ballot on the National Voter Education Week website.
- Make a plan to vote. Transportation is one of the most common barriers preventing eligible voters from casting their ballots. If you need a ride to the polls, there may be a nonpartisan civic organization in your community that is able to provide one. Rideshare2Vote AWARE, an Our Homes, Our Votes affiliate, is a nonpartisan organization that provides barrier-free rides to the polls in 13 states. Visit its website at rideshare2voteaware.org or call 888-858-3421 to request a ride. If you already have transportation to the polls, consider volunteering with Rideshare2Vote AWARE and supporting other voters in your community! Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
- Another aspect of making a plan to vote is ensuring that you have the voter ID that your state law requires. Visit www.voteriders.org/ to learn about your state’s voter ID requirements and get help with obtaining your ID.
- Research your ballot. While state and local elections typically get far less media coverage than federal elections, their outcomes can have a major impact on housing policy decisions in your community. Visit BallotReady.org for more information about who’s running for office and what to expect on your ballot.
- To learn more about housing-related ballot measures, register for the upcoming Our Homes, Our Voteswebinar series, “Housing Is Built with Ballots,” which will take place on October 12 and 26.
- Mobilize your community! Research shows that personal outreach is one of the best ways to increase voter registration and turnout rates. Pass along voter registration and education resources to your friends and family, and post on social media to uplift the importance of civic engagement. You can use sample social media content from the Our Homes, Our Votes website or from National Voter Education Week’s shareable content hub. Use the hashtags #VoteReady, #NationalVoterEducationWeek, and #OurHomesOurVotes and be sure to tag @OurHomesVotes.