By: Gaby Saldaña-Lopez, Community Engagement Liaison
The midterm election is quickly approaching and so is the voter registration deadline. Midterm elections are historically known to have a lower voter turnout. This election season there are many ballot measures that would affect numerous community members. If you are eligible to vote, here are some important points to remember:
- The deadline to register is Tuesday, October 16.
- You can do so over mail, in person and online, more info here.
- If you’ve moved since the last election cycle please RE-REGISTER at your current address!
- Even if you have sliver of doubt re-register, there is no penalty for registering again if you are already registered.
- If you are out of the state or out of the country, you can still vote by an absentee ballot.
- Election day is Tuesday, November 6.
Voting is not a possibility for many individuals in our community. There are many reasons a person might be ineligible or have a barrier to vote including a past felony conviction, an individual not holding a citizen status, individuals under the age of 18, individuals without mailing addresses, and having ID that does not match an individual’s gender identity (see the National Center for Transgender Equality’s voting rights page). These barriers can further marginalize vulnerable communities that are already disenfranchised from accessing traditional forms of political power. These are the communities that are left out of the main political discourse during election season, so those of us with access to voting must exercise our right to vote and consider using this privilege to advocate for others who may not be at the table.
Voting is extremely important– especially for local elections– but it is not the only way to exercise political power. If you cannot vote, you can support organizations that advocate for issues and positions important for the well-being of the community. And even if you can vote, check out and support some of the following organizations that work on overcoming various barriers to voting: Unite Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, CAUSA, APANO, Latino Network , RISE. One resource for learning about Oregon issues is the Forward Together Voter Guide.
Some community members are not able to vote. Those of us who can have the responsibility to get registered to vote, get informed on the issues, and then VOTE! Let’s work together to create a better Oregon for ALL of us.