Tuesday, September 25, 2018 is this year’s National Voter Registration Day. First established and observed in 2012 by The National Association of Secretaries of State, National Voter Registration Day is a day in which everyone over the age of 16 is encouraged to register to vote. On this day, volunteers encourage people to vote and to be involved in their nation’s elections, be it on a local or national scale.
The United States has some of the lowest voting turnouts of any western democracy, with less than 60% of eligible voters having participated in the 2016 elections, according to The Telegraph[1]. For a democracy such as ours to function properly, it is crucial that its citizens participate in elections, from smaller scale local elections to larger scale national elections.
In the state of California, all citizens over the age of 16 are eligible to register to vote. When a pre-registered voter turns 18, they will automatically be able to vote. The main issue behind low voter turnout is citizens who miss the registration deadline or simply do not register at all, believing that their say in elections does not matter.
Here at Anaheim Exclusivo, we encourage our readers to register to vote, and to vote in their local, state, and national elections. Be it as a Democrat, Republican, Green Party Member, Liberal, or Conservative, everyone should vote for the candidates and policies they want to see in this country in order to help create a functioning democracy.
Some of the most important impacts on daily life happens in the local elections, and here in Anaheim, the mayoral seat and a city council seat is up for election. Thus, we encourage our readers 18 and over to participate in these elections regardless of political standing, and those over the age of 16 to register to vote in preparation for our next elections.
Every vote matters, regardless of the election, be it presidential or mayoral. Be sure to register on Tuesday to be able to participate in the November midterm elections this year.

[1] Scott, Patrick. “US Election 2016: Voter Turnout Fell to 58 per Cent This Year, Estimates Show.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 14 Nov. 2016.