West Plains, MO. – Today, September 19, 2023, is National Voter Registration Day. National Voter Registration Day is the perfect time to make sure you are registered to vote at your current address, register if you are age 17 1/2 so you can vote at 18, and learn where you will go to vote for local, municipal, state, and federal elections.
In a proclamation signed by President Joseph Biden, he stated “The right to vote and to have that vote counted is the threshold of democracy. Without it, nothing is possible, but with it, anything is. On National Voter Registration Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring every American has equal opportunity to participate in our democracy, and we encourage all eligible Americans to register to vote.”
Registering to vote in Missouri is different from registering to vote in Arkansas. Notably, in Missouri, you can register to vote online but, you must register via paper application in Arkansas. Information on how to register is handled by the Secretary of State.
QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE
In Missouri, the qualifications for voter registration are:
- 17 1/2 years of age to register, 18 years of age to vote
- US Citizen
- Missouri Resident
In Arkansas, there are more restrictions:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be an Arkansas resident.
- Be age 18 or turn 18 on or before the next election.
- Not be a convicted felon whose sentence has not been discharged or pardoned.
- Not be presently adjudged as mentally incompetent as to your ability to vote by a court of competent jurisdiction.
HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE
In Missouri, you can register to vote online at the Secretary of State’s website or pick up a paper application at your local county clerk’s office and many other government offices.
In Arkansas, you can obtain a voter registration application at your local county clerk, local revenue or DMV office, public library, or other government offices, or print a form from the Secretary of State’s website.
Voting is your chance to have your voice heard. In 2024, there will be a presidential election, House of Representatives and Senator elections, and multiple local elections where your vote carries more weight than most. Remember to register to vote before the upcoming 2024 election season.
