National Association of Secretaries of State President Tre Hargett of Tennessee Leads Effort to Promote Increased Awareness for State Voter Registration Requirements

For Immediate Release
September 4, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC - The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) today reminds citizens coming off the busy Labor Day weekend that September 2013 is National Voter Registration Month. NASS President Tre Hargett of Tennessee is urging his fellow Secretaries of State and other chief state election officials to make eligible voters aware of registration deadlines and requirements, as well as promote state resources to aid with the registration process.

"The right to vote should never be taken for granted," said Secretary Hargett. "I encourage all eligible United States citizens to register if they haven't already. Also, it's important for people who have moved to make sure voter registration records are updated with their current address information."

The nation's Secretaries of State established September as National Voter Registration Month to encourage voter participation and increase awareness of state requirements and deadlines for voting.

According to the federal government, states reported receiving more than 62.5 million voter registration application forms during the 2012 presidential election cycle, with nearly 24 million applications from new voters who were not previously registered. 

The 2013 elections for state and local office present an opportunity for election officials to encourage some of the 10.6 percent of estimated American citizens of voting age (18 years or older) who are eligible but not yet registered to vote.

Get registered to vote. Eligible citizens who are 18 years of age or older may register to vote. Every state except North Dakota has a registration requirement for voting. A number of states now offer online voter registration.

Check your voter registration information. The majority of states offer tools that allow voters to verify their registration status using the Internet. Updating voter registration information is critical for people who have recently moved, changed their name, or had their voting rights restored under the law. It is also required for people who wish to switch their party affiliation.

In a concerted effort to remind eligible voters to register and/or update their voting information before deadlines pass, NASS has also declared September 24, 2013 as National Voter Registration Day. Forty-eight states plus the District of Columbia have voter registration deadlines in October.

For more on voter registration options and deadlines in your state, please visit the association's non-partisan voting information website, www.CanIVote.org.

About NASS

Founded in 1904, the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) is the oldest nonpartisan, professional association of public officials in the United States.  Members include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and Puerto Rico.  NASS serves as a medium for the exchange of information between states and fosters cooperation in the development of public policy.  The association has key initiatives in the areas of elections and voting, state business services and digital archiving, as well as several well-established awards programs. 

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