Residents highlight the value of voter registration on a local level

Sep. 19—St. Joseph residents are using National Voter Registration Day to recognize the importance of heading to the polls, even in years without a presidential election.

Voter turnout is typically lower when the presidential choice isn't on the ballot, but Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey said city elections make a big difference.

"They're local, they affect your tax dollars locally here," Baack-Garvey said. "Your leaders, your city leaders, you're choosing them to run your city. The smaller ones are just as important."

For those who want their voices to be heard, the first step toward making a difference can be voting in local elections.

"Yeah we can vote for the president, but the small elections are what actually matter," said Rokhaya Drane, a Missouri Western State University senior. "Those are the people that are able to pass the laws. That's how we are going to make a change in the future."

During the presidential election in 2020, many residents utilized absentee ballots in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The process for registration is the same.

"To request that, you have to have an excuse six weeks out," Baack-Garvey said. "If you have a disability or can't get out, that's an excuse."

This year's national Election Day is Nov. 7. The registration deadline is 27 days before the day of the election, meaning this year the deadline is Oct. 11.

Visit https://vote.gov/register/mo/ for more details on how to register.