Darwin Salazar, Contributing Writer
Coming from Alexandria, Virginia, a city where people take their civic responsibilities seriously, it surprises me that some of my peers at VCU seem to have little knowledge of — or interest in — basic civic processes, such as registering to vote.
Moreover, even among my fellow freshman classmates who are registered to vote, many appeared not to consider updating their voter registration. This is especially concerning since updating your voter registration is far easier than having to travel back home or ask for a mail-in ballot to vote in a district that you do not even live in.
Considering the fact that midterm elections are coming up, it is an important time to remind VCU about the importance of voting, as well as how to do it. This information may seem obvious to the civically engaged students at VCU. However, it does not hurt to try and educate those who may not know how our system of elections work, such as first generation students, new citizens or first time voters — those whose voices are needed more than ever in our democracy.
My overall goal is to educate the incoming generation of voters to build an environment at VCU where civic engagement is not just a responsibility, but a passion.
The importance of registering to vote cannot be overstated. It secures your vote by preventing voter fraud, meaning it ensures that no person can vote in two different locations.
There are many ways to register in our commonwealth. You can visit the Virginia Department of Elections website, go to iwillvote.com or register the old-fashioned way: being stopped by a random person on the street and asked, “Are you registered?” It is important to note that the last option comes with a physical form to fill out.
In Richmond, you must register by Friday, Oct. 23 to vote in the upcoming midterms. If Election Day comes around and you realize that you forgot to register, you can do same-day voter registration when going to cast your vote. When registering, be sure to have your Social Security number memorized or your card handy.
Within two weeks of registering, you will receive mail confirming your address and voting district. If you are already registered and moving to a new area, I would strongly suggest that you update your voter information if you are going to be there for an extended period of time.
After all, it is not worth voting in a place that you are not living in.
Secondly, be informed. I hope that goes without saying, but always know what, and most importantly, who, will be on the ballot. Know when and where you must vote. Understand what type of election it is and what is at risk.
For example, here in Richmond, we have a U.S. Senate race between incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa. Additionally, there is a U.S. House of Representatives race between incumbent Democratic Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Republican candidate Robert Murray Jr. and independent challenger Joan Bell.
Citizens will also vote on three proposed amendments to the Constitution of Virginia that deal with the enshrining of the right to reproductive freedom, the removal of a ban on same-sex marriage and the restoration of voting rights for felons after they have served their time, according to a previous report by the CT.
For those that live in Richmond’s 6th district, there is a special school board election between incumbent Anne Holton and challenger Jackie McDonnough, both of whom are nonpartisan, according to WRIC. There is also a local sales tax referendum for public school construction and major renovations, according to Orange County Public Schools.
I will not try to tell you how to vote (for now, at least) but I urge everyone reading this to take an hour or two to research all the options so that come Election Day, you can make an informed decision. To this end, it can be helpful to look at the websites of each candidate, as well as any of their recent statements or debates.
Keeping up with and taking part in contemporary politics can be annoying — trust me, I know. But that is not an excuse to voluntarily blind yourself to the options that you are given, limited though they may be.
In other words, do not silence yourself because of the messy and divisive state of American politics. Rather, become an informed voter despite it.
Lastly, go out and vote. Do not let Richmond become a place where voters are apathetic and democracy dies in darkness.
Early voting starts Sept. 18 and lasts through Oct. 31, so you have time to consider it as an option. If you are like me and prefer the chaotic ambiance of Election Day, you are more than welcome to wait for Tuesday, Nov. 3, so long as you commit to voting no matter what.
VCU is an institution full of diverse opinions and backgrounds. While there will always be much disagreement and controversy, I choose to see that as something that strengthens our democracy, not as something that hinders it.
So the next time you walk into a voting booth and cast your vote, remember that you are not just choosing a school board member or a U.S. Senator, but that you are engaging in a conversation about your future, your loved ones’ futures, Richmond’s future and America’s future.
If there is anything that I want you to take away from this article, let it be this: if voting were not important, then certain people would not try as hard as they currently are to limit your right to do it.