Celebrate National Voter Registration Day today and everyday
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Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day. Photo by David Brand
By Soma Syed
Special to the Eagle
Civilizations past have witnessed peoples' fight for the right to vote — in order to exercise their act of free will in the choice of a democratic government.
Yet, In the 21st Century, many people still do not have the freedom to act, choose and vote with free will.
In our country of roughly 331 million people, many people are not registered to vote. Still, others who are registered to vote do not exercise their right to vote in a local, city, state or national election.
In 2016, only 128,838,342 million voted in the presidential election and as of 2018, just over 153 million people have registered to vote. Thus, a vast majority of people are eligible to vote but have not registered.
A true democracy works when people are invested in the democratic process and select the best candidates for office. As is the case with the most profitable of corporations, a country can collapse as well if at its core and foundationally, it is not operating in alignment with sound democratic principles.
Today, Sept. 22, is National Voter Registration Day.
On Sept. 12, the QCWBA held a Census 2020 and Voter Registration Drive in the Flushing Meadows Corona Park. We are encouraged by our members' passion for civic duties, as well as by the participation of individuals we were able to register. Even for those who could not register, we rest confidently, knowing that we were able to reach their ears about the importance of being counted and voting.
Oct. 9 is the last date on which one can register to vote in the November 2020 elections. Information pertaining to other deadlines appear below and can also be found at the NYS Board of Elections website: https://www.elections.ny.gov.
QCWBA will be holding a Voter Registration Drive in the coming week.
Please do not forget to register to vote and then to go and vote.
Let us remember our history, why wars were fought, why the beacon of freedom should still ring loudly like a thunder in our ears, not just hollow shallow of the remnants of the past.
Democracy works best when we intrinsically understand the value of freedom, the layers of institutions and trust built into it, when we exercise our rights, when we elect the best of the best, and we vote for the best despite our party differences, for the love of our country and people.
Let us remember: Country before party. People before party.
Deadline Information:
Oct. 27: Last day to apply online, by email, fax or to postmark an application or letter of application by mail for an absentee ballot. (Please be warned that despite this deadline, the Post Office has advised they cannot guarantee timely delivery of ballots applied for less than 15 days before an election.
Nov. 2: Last day to apply IN-PERSON for absentee ballot.
Nov. 3 Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than Nov. 10th. Military Voter Ballots must be received no later than Nov. 16.
Nov. 3: Last day to deliver ballots IN-PERSON to the local board of elections or to any poll site.
How and Where to Register to Vote in the last remaining days:
-Register in person at your county board of elections;
-Take advantage of many Voter Registration Drives throughout the City;
-Pick up a voter registration form from the Post Office and mail it in;
-Submit voter application at the DMV either in person or on their website;
Attorney Soma Syed is president of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association.
