County residents urged to register to vote or check their registration on Tuesday, National Voter Registration Day

To The Press

Floyd County Auditor Gloria Carr joined Secretary of State Paul Pate and auditors across Iowa in encouraging all eligible residents to participate in National Voter Registration Month by registering to vote or making sure their voter information is current.

The National Association of Secretaries of State established September as National Voter Registration Month in 2002 to encourage voter participation and increase awareness.

Tuesday, Sept. 24, is National Voter Registration Day. Last year, nearly 5,000 Iowans used the state’s online voter registration system on that day.

“Voting for the city and school elections begins in just a few weeks and the Iowa Caucuses are on the horizon, so now is a great time to make sure you’re registered to vote, and your information is current,” Pate said.

“We are one of the top states in the nation for voter registration and voter participation. My goal is for us to be No. 1,” he said.

Several quick and easy options are available to register to vote, including the ability to register at any time online.

In addition, you can register through the mail, at various government agency offices, at a voter registration drive, at military recruiting centers, and in-person at your polling place.

“Many Iowans are not aware that in May 2017, the Iowa Legislature lowered the voter registration age to 17 effective Jan. 1, 2019. A person may vote if they will be 18 years old on or before election day,” Auditor Carr said.

“Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate plans to award schools that register at least 90% of their eligible students to vote with the Carrie Chapman Catt Award,” Carr said. “It would certainly be appropriate for the schools in Floyd County, the girlhood home of Carrie, to earn this award.”

Approximately 90 percent of eligible Iowans are registered to vote, and there are more than two million active registered voters in the state.

To check your voter registration status, register to vote or update your information, visit VoterReadyIowa.org or www.floydcoia.org/172/Election-Voter-Registration-Information.