The Importance of Voting: Your Go-To Resources
At Chicory Wealth, we believe in a healthy democracy, which is fundamentally based on inclusive and widespread civic participation – and that means voting. We all know that 2022 is a “midterm elections” year, but it’s important to remember that this year all eligible Americans will have the opportunity to vote. This includes electing all 435 seats for the House of Representatives, 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate, governors in 36 states, and hundreds of state legislator and local races. Many of these elections will also include primaries.
It’s definitely not too early to start thinking about this, especially considering the map redistricting that’s happening in every state and new voting laws that have passed or are being considered. We want to encourage voter participation among our employees and our clients, so here are some helpful resources:
- Voting doesn’t have to be complicated. One of the easiest steps you can take is to sign up with TurboVote to receive notifications about every election you are eligible to participate in. Then you’ll always know where and when to vote. Easy!
- Voting in 2022 will likely look different than it has in the past, due to an ongoing pandemic, changing district maps, and new voting legislation (such as new voter ID requirements). Educate yourself about what you need to cast your vote at HowToVote.
- In 2022, lawmakers and election administrators in many states are expected to work to pass and implement laws related to elections and access for voters. Some of these laws will likely strengthen voter participation, and some will make them more restrictive. Following the 2020 election, many states passed restrictive measures that are already impacting voters today. Here are two resources you can use to track new legislation that seeks to restrict or expand voter access:
- Key dates for the upcoming primary elections will be different for each state and can even change in the months leading up to the election. The same will be true for local and statewide elections this year. Democracy Works is tracking 2022 elections, including information on registration dates, vote by mail deadlines, and early vote timing. Find your state and local elections here. The election data collected by Democracy Works goes through extensive quality assurance checks by their team of election experts. This research process is designed to identify all elections taking place in jurisdictions of at least 5,000 voters. This resource will be continuously updated as more election information becomes available, or if this data changes. Please note that this chart only looks out 30 days, so make sure to check back frequently. You can also visit Ballotpedia for more information on local deadlines in your state.
- Are you new to voting – or know someone who is? Richard C. Bell, Esq., has created a free YouTube series, Voting for Beginners, as a primer for young and not so young voters on how to properly register, cast a ballot, and have your vote counted. Check it out and share!
Nothing is more fundamental to our democracy than voting. The people we elect this year will have a tremendous impact on what can get done—and on American life—in the coming years. Your vote will have a direct influence on the policies that affect our day to day lives. Thank you for being a part of that democracy.
Photo by Cyrus Crossan of Unsplash.
