VoteLibraries wants to encourage public libraries and campus libraries to be a part of Vote Early Day on October 29, 2024, to empower voters ahead of the November 2024 elections.
Early voting is offered in many states, and civic organizations like public libraries have a role to play in educating and activating their community to participate in election day. Some states, such as Alabama, New Hampshire, and Pennslyvania, do not offer early voting. If your library is in a state that offers early voting and is interested in helping everyone eligible to vote to be registered and cast their ballot, Vote Early Day should be a part of your civic and student engagement calendar.
Vote Early Day is a non-partisan civic holiday that can help mobilize your community to cast their ballots. Your public library is invited to sign up for the October 29, 2024 events at https://voteearlyday.org/get-involved/. Vote Early Day local partners have access to free resources and materials, making it easy for your library to celebrate this civic holiday.
Ideas for Successfully Promoting Early Voting Day 2024:
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Host a Pop-Up Voting Clinic by inviting local election officials or volunteers to host "voter information clinics" where people can ask questions about voting, learn how to check their registration status and understand what forms of ID are required in your state.
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Sponsor Voting Seminars for Students and New Voters or open houses for students and new voters on how to register, where to vote, and why their votes matter, especially for local elections.
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Set up a Countdown to Vote Early Day campaign on social media in the lead-up to October 29 with daily facts, infographics, and tips about the benefits of early voting. Include info on early voting locations, deadlines, and requirements.
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Create “Grab & Go” Voter Information Kits with voter registration forms, early voting guides, and information on what voters need to know about their local elections. Make these available at the library or in “Little Free Library” locations around town.
- Incorporate Vote Early Day into your regular library services by mentioning early voting opportunities at the reference and circulation desks, providing Vote Early Day bookmarks, and hosting programming centered around early voting to highlight the importance of being prepared ahead of election day.
During the 2020 presidential election, which was defined by the pandemic, Americans voted early in record-breaking numbers. Over 100 million people cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, more than the total early votes in the 2016 and 2018 elections combined. We have seen early voting increase year after year.
Created in 2020, Vote Early Day is celebrated by thousands of nonprofits, election administrators, libraries, businesses, campus groups, and creatives who come together each year to help Americans overcome Election Day hurdles by voting early. The EveryLibrary Insitute is a partner organization because we know that when people vote early, they avoid last-minute problems, long lines at the polls, confusing election laws, or voter disinformation that can deter or prevent people from casting their ballots.
We are proud to again join national partners like The League of Women Voters, NAACP, Patagonia, Lyft, MTV, Snapchat, and the YMCA. Through this civic collaboration, local Vote Early Day partners help break through the political noise and meet voters, especially young, disenfranchised, or historically marginalized communities, where they are.
Public libraries have an important role in providing information about voter registration and access to the ballot box. If you are as inspired to help Americans vote early as we are, we invite you to join this growing civic holiday at www.VoteEarlyDay.org/get-involved.