National Voter Registration Day signals two weeks left to register

Patch Staff Report

Election Day is six weeks from today and the deadline to register to vote in Georgia's general election is in two weeks on Oct. 9.

Today is National Voter Registration Day and if you’re unsure if you're registered, visit the Georgia Secretary of State website. For more information about voter guidelines, what’s on the ballot for Midtown voters and more, see here.

Here on National Voter Registration Day in Atlanta, hundreds of metro residents will join Congressmen John Lewis, David Scott and Hank Johnson and a host of civic engagement groups, including the Midtown-based Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO), to help make sure all eligible voters in Georgia are registered and prepared to vote this fall.

In 2008, 6 million Americans didn't vote because they missed a registration deadline or didn't know how to register. The Atlanta "For the People" Voter Protection event will be one of several across the country held at the same time hosted by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as similar events around the country celebrating National Voter Registration Day.

As part of the "For the People" Voter Protection Initiative H. Res. 542, the Atlanta event will bring attention to restrictive voter ID laws, which may impede as many as 5 million Americans from registering to vote and/or casting a ballot this November, and educate voters on how to obtain the necessary Voter ID.

"Every individual has the immutable right to determine his or her own destiny," said Rep. Lewis in a news release. "That is why voting should be easy, simple and accessible to every citizen regardless of language, education, class or zip code. It should be one-man or woman, one vote. The vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have to build a more perfect union."

Said of GALEO Executive Director Jerry Gonzalez, "GALEO has been working hard to get Latinos registered to vote and we are making progress. The Latino vote continues to grow and today is a great way to draw attention to the upcoming voter registration deadline with our coalition partners."

For more information about the events to protect the right to vote for all eligible voters, visit here.