Election Day is Nov. 5, 2024.
On Nov. 5, millions of people in the United States will use their hard-won right to vote. We, the ordinary citizens, will decide the future of our communities, states and country.
Our Right to Vote
Voting has always been a central tenet of civic responsibility, although it is only one of many ways to take civic and political action. Throughout U.S. history, incremental steps to expand voting and participation in government have slowly moved our country from an elite system – in which only white men who owned land could vote – to a more pluralist democracy, in which citizens of diverse backgrounds participate and share their perspectives.
However, violent opposition to a diverse, more inclusive society in which all people share rights and responsibilities is also a part of our history. Although the 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, made it illegal to deny the right to vote based on race or “previous condition of servitude” (in reference to slavery), widespread disenfranchisement, barriers and white supremacist violence prevented Black Americans from registering and voting. Almost a hundred years later, as a result of the struggles and demands of ordinary people during the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 finally helped make the right to vote a reality in practice.
In the decades since the VRA, we’ve moved closer to achieving a multiracial, inclusive democracy, one in which we see growing representation of Black and other people of color. But this shift to a more inclusive society has also been met by opposition and backlash, from voter suppression and gerrymandering to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that attempted to stop the election certification process. As we near the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, we continue to face perilous challenges in our democratic republic.
The central tenets of engaged citizenship include and support voting but are not limited to it. Other key tenets include being active in our communities and staying informed on issues and current events – local, national and international.
The Importance of Your Vote
Historically, the youngest eligible demographic (age 18-29) had the lowest voter turnout. This began to change in the 2020 election, with Gen Z propelling a powerful increase in younger age-group turnout. This block of age 18-24 voters also played a significant role in the political and racial justice movements of that summer, turning their action into increased voter participation. Further, there will be a predicted 7-point rise in eligible Gen Z voters in the 2024 election, paving the way for Gen Z to play a major role in the outcome if turnout continues to grow. Voters of color were especially prominent, demonstrating the power of action in a diverse democratic society.
Every vote matters, so don’t accept any notion that “one vote will not change anything.” The 2000 presidential election was decided by just 537 votes in Florida. More recently, the 2020 presidential election in Georgia was decided by only 11,779 votes. By planning early and taking the necessary steps, you can help ensure your participation in strengthening our democracy.
Now is the time for action. We are at a crucial moment in our nation’s history, and all our votes matter.
The South’s Got Now | Decidimos
The Southern Poverty Law Center’s The South’s Got Now | Decidimos campaign will unite eligible voters from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi in a movement to show that we can forge the change we wish to see in our communities. Each state has different rules for voter registration and voting. The campaign’s state-specific pages and voter guides can help you learn about new voter laws in your state, note key dates for the election and even register to vote (resources available in English and Spanish). You can also find information about voting on from your state’s secretary of state website.
Reflection and Action
Plan as Election Day approaches. The following recommendations provide actions you can take prior to Election Day to strengthen our democracy and safeguard our election. We can make a difference in our communities by taking the steps below.
1. Understand the qualifications for voting.
Because each state has different deadlines and requirements, you should check early if you are not registered or are unsure of your registration status. Note that some states have certain restrictions on voting. The following are general qualifications for voting in federal, state and local elections:
- You are a U.S. citizen. (Some areas allow noncitizens to vote in local elections only.)
- You meet state residency requirements.
- You are 18 years old on or before Election Day. (Most states allow you to register before turning 18 if you will turn 18 by Election Day.)
- You registered to vote by your state’s voter registration deadline.
Learn more about voting qualifications and restrictions at USA.gov’s page Who Can and Cannot Vote.
2. Register to vote. Check your registration status.
Many states have conducted “voter purging,” an effort to delete outdated or ineligible voters, which can purge eligible voters as well and make them unable to vote.
- Register to vote or check that your voter registration is still active at the SPLC’s The South’s Got Now page or at usa.gov.
- Most state secretary of state websites allow you to check your registration and provide information.
3. Research the issues and the entire ballot.
Your community is affected by all contests on the ballot, not just the presidential election at the top. Make sure to research the ballot initiatives in your state, as well as the state and local candidates. Researching candidates and policy measures on the ballot will help you prepare to cast your ballot at the local, state and national levels. Research should cover the candidates’ positions on issues important to you and your community as well as the candidate’s voting record, if they have experience in government.
- You can use Vote Smart to research information about candidates, ballot issues, voter registration and more. Ballotpedia also has information about candidates and issues, including school boards in some of the larger districts.
- Find who represents your community in Congress at the U.S. House of Representatives’ Find Your Representative page.
- You can also request a sample ballot to be sure that you know what to expect on Election Day. Ballotpedia offers an online sample ballot tool that can help you.
4. Verify your polling place and the rules for early or absentee voting.
Learn about redistricting in your state. After the 2020 census, legislative districts were redrawn across the country. Check redistricting in your state, as you may be in a different district than the last time you voted. Most state secretary of state websites will have polling location information.
If voting via absentee ballot, be sure to review the deadlines and submit your ballot as early as possible. You will never receive unsolicited communications about absentee ballots. If you wish to vote absentee, you must initiate the request. Be careful about scams and misinformation that aim to silence your vote.
5. Plan how you will get to the polling location. And volunteer to drive voters to the polls.
The logistics of Election Day can add barriers for many voters. Plan how you will get to your polling location, consider timing and what you will need on Election Day to vote and arrange travel plans.
6. Plan to vote early.
Early voting allows more opportunity and ease to vote – which is exactly why some state legislatures are curbing access to it as a method of voter suppression. Plan to vote early, if your state allows it. You never know what can happen on the day of, and early voting allows more time to solve any issues.
- Review early voting information and deadlines for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi at The South’s Got Now state pages.
7. Become a poll worker (at workelections.org).
Every voter should be able to have an easy and efficient experience at the polls. Elections are underfunded as is, and a shortage of poll workers can mean more closed polling places. Working the polls is one of the most effective ways to support democracy.
- Check to see if your county, or surrounding counties, need more volunteers. Sign up at Power the Polls.
8. Vote!
Your choice matters, and your perspective deserves to be heard. Exercise the right to vote that was denied to so many Americans before you. Remember, ordinary people struggled and risked their lives – and some were killed – to help secure our ability to exercise the right to vote. Honor them by voting in every election.
Learn More With These Resources
Being an engaged citizen involves far more than casting a vote. It also means understanding the multiple layers of the election process. Here are a few sites that provide key knowledge.
- CIRCLE, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, focuses on youth civic engagement.
- The Youth Voter Movement is a nonpartisan effort to ensure youth have a voice in the future.
- The U.S. Department of Education released a Toolkit for the Promotion of Voter Participation for Students.
- How Schools Can Prepare Students to Vote for the First Time, from Education Week.
- StudentPIRGs’ Activist Toolkit provides the basic tools to run strong campaigns.
- The Civics Center student page teaches why voting is essential.
- Energizing Young Voters, from the League of Women Voters, envisions a democracy where every person participates.
- Vote411 offers a Voter Checklist.