Roughly 40% of Americans don't vote!

Election Day is right around the corner!  We all know how important it is to vote.  But were you aware that the United States trails most other developed countries when it comes to voter turnout in Presidential elections?

A report from Pew Research Center (a non-partisan think tank) shows that the US ranks 31st out of of 35 highly developed countries when it comes to voting.

From Pew Research Center

Some of this is due to the fact that citizens in the US are not automatically registered to vote, as they are in some other countries.  And, of course, some people who live in the US are not eligible to vote.  However, even when voting-ineligible people are taken into account, only about 58% of people voted in the 2012 Presidential election, para. 8).

So Get Informed and Vote on Tuesday, November 8!

• Election 2016 Research Guide from Nazareth Library

• Non-Partisan Candidate Guides from the Campus Election Engagement Project

• New York State Board of Elections

Register to vote by October 14th in New York State!

Photo credit:  League of Women Voters

Voting is the cornerstone of democracy in the United States of America, and a fundamental right of all citizens.  Make sure you exercise your rights by registering and voting in the upcoming November election.

Applications to Register to Vote in New York State (either by mail or in-person) are due by OCTOBER 14TH.  

You are eligible to vote if you are a United States Citizen, meet your state's residency requirements, are 18 years of age on or before Election Day, and register to vote by your State's deadline.  

More information is available at:

• Voter registration deadlines in New York State:  http://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingDeadlines.html 
• General information about elections and registering to vote in New York State:  http://www.elections.ny.gov/ 
• New York Voting Guide from the League of Women Voters:  http://www.vote411.org/state_guide?state_id=New%20York#.V-QzsPkrJhE

If you are not from New York State and are wondering where you should register to vote, check out the STUDENT VOTING GUIDE 2016 at Brennan Center for Justice.  This page has helpful, state-by-state information for students and other young people who are voting for the first time.  Remember to give yourself extra time if you need to file for an absentee ballot.  

Remember that voting is just as important in non-Presidential election years.  Always keep your voter registration and address up-to-date and pay attention to the Board of Elections in your home state. 

See even more information on our Election 2016 Research Guide.