This September 16, we celebrate National Voter Registration Day. First celebrated in 2012 and celebrated every third Tuesday of September thereafter, it serves as a nonpartisan civic holiday to encourage Americans to get registered in time to make it to the ballot box for the next election. In total, over 6 million Americans and counting have been registered to vote through National Voter Registration Day initiatives. These initiatives are partner-led, with partners spanning a multitude of agencies, ranging from civic engagement focused nonprofits to colleges to libraries to individual volunteers canvassing their neighborhoods.
National Voter Registration Day’s goal is to ensure that Americans can enjoy one of the most critical rights we have in our democracy: voting! Voter registration is especially important in Nebraska because here you are unable to register the day of the election. To make your voice heard and to participate in our democracy, you need to register to vote ahead of time. Registering to vote also ensures Nebraskans have all the tools they need to choose the method of voting that works best for them, whether that be in person, voting by mail, or voting early.
There’s no such thing as off-years when it comes to elections—local elections hold huge weight for our communities! While 2025 is not a statewide election year here in Nebraska, it is still essential that you keep your voter registration current. Keeping your voter registration current means updating your address and personal information if and when it changes. Once you register to vote in Nebraska, you are registered to vote for life, so long as you update your registration as needed and comply with the eligibility guidelines. By keeping your voter registration current, you can ensure that you receive accurate information about what polling location to go to, guarantee you can vote in all of your local elections, streamline the voting process, and ensure your ballot gets counted.
While today some of us may take for granted our right to vote, historically the right to vote was not a universal one. It was not until 1920 that the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified granting women the right to vote, and it was not until 1965 that the Voting Rights Act passed, prohibiting racial discrimination in voting. Even today, voter suppression laws and tactics continue to undermine people’s rights to participate in a just democracy, with these laws particularly targeting Black, Indigenous, Latino, and disabled Americans. As we honor the legacy of those who came before us in the fight for an inclusive democracy, exercising our right to vote is an essential way to contribute to a better future for our state and country.
In Nebraska, there are currently several barriers to voter registration. The first barrier, and one that makes National Voter Registration Day efforts all the more important, is that Nebraska does not have automatic voter registration when interacting with state agencies such as the DMV. In many other states, when you get a driver’s license or an ID, you are automatically registered to vote, meaning people are registered without having to go through any extra steps. Unfortunately, Nebraska does not offer this service. Nebraska also does not offer same day voter registration at a polling place, meaning that voters must register ahead of time, and this process can feel daunting for many. Further, in Nebraska individuals convicted of felony charges are ineligible until the completion of their sentence, including parole. Individuals convicted of felonies often are not informed about when their voting rights have been restored, leaving many to avoid voting entirely, so as not to risk violating their sentences.
While barriers to voter registration in Nebraska do exist, we can work together to overcome these barriers through education and community efforts to make the process more accessible. Use our Online Voter Registration Portal to register to vote today. After making sure you are registered, tell your friends, family, and neighbors to register too. Your vote matters, and together through civic participation, we can work towards a democracy that represents all of us.