According to theGriot.com today, September 25, 2012, over 1100 organizations across this country will come together nationally to inform people about voting opportunities and get them registered to vote in time for the 2012 General Election!

This day reminds me of my 83 year old paternal great-grandmother, Birdie Elizabeth (Green) Aldridge, who I blogged about last year, being the talk of the town as her photo and comments about the 1971 election in Parsons, Labette County, Kansas were captured in their local newspaper. Momma Birdie (the name everyone called her) had not missed voting in an election (local or national) since she moved to Kansas from Texas in 1912. The reason for that she says is, “Voting is second only to worshiping God (to learn more about Momma Birdie, read —My Fearless Female Ancestor Who Made the News)!”

So why is this National Voters Registration Day 2012 so important?

It is no secret that voter suppression is still alive and well in this country, and poses a real threat to millions in this year’s presidential election. It has been reported that 17-21 states (mine included), have put in place strict photo ID laws which will literally prevent many young people and the elderly from being able to vote in this year’s election. States claim they put in place stricter photo ID laws to prevent voter fraud which they alleged happened in various counties during the 2008 election. Yet, when it comes to states proving voter fraud actually took place, there has been no real hard evidence to back up their claims.

I believe the real reason for the stricter photo ID laws today is to prevent record numbers of minority voters from showing up at the polls as they did in 2008. According to the US Census Bureau,

“About 131 million people reported voting in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, an increase of 5 million from 2004, according to a new table package released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. The increase included about 2 million more black voters, 2 million more Hispanic voters and about 600,000 more Asian voters, while the number of non-Hispanic white voters remained statistically unchanged.”

Just as my great-grandmother believed voting was next to worshiping God in importance, I believe this National Voters Registration Day is just as important as the November 6, 2012 general  election itself. And if my 83 year old great-grandmother made it to the polls in her physical condition (amputee due to crippling diabetes), then I know anyone with reasonably good health can find their way to the polls to vote in this year’s election!

For more information about voting in the United States, visit – USA.gov
For more information about voting in Texas visit — VoteTexas.org, an official government website created by the Office of the Texas Secretary of State to provide information to citizens a one-stop website regarding voting in Texas.

Please keep in mind that voter registration deadlines and early voting vary from state to state. So Texans, here are dates important to you:

Voter Registration Deadline  – October 9, 2012

Early Voting in Texas – October 22, 2012 – November 2, 2012

General 2012 Election – November 6, 2012

ATTENTION TEXANS:
Please, please, please, DO NOT wait until election day to find out if you’re registered to vote or not; to know who you’re voting for (trust me you are going to want to vote on other issues that appear on the ballot that will impact your life); to know where to go for early voting and/or voting in the general election. Learn the answers to ALL these frequently asked questions early by visiting VoteTexas.org today!