It’s officially Civic Holiday season, John!

Last week, the Alliance Network marked yet another successful National Voter Registration Day with more than 100 exciting events around the country. Check out a full recap of the day’s happenings, plus a summary of our research collaboration with Priorities, and a spotlight on the Network's recent media coverage down below! 

Another successful National Voter Registration Day in the books! Since we co-founded NVRD in 2012, youth organizers in the Alliance Network have successfully and powerfully commemorated the day by creating countless nationwide opportunities for their communities to get registered—this year was no different!

Engage Miami teamed up with Pizza to the Polls and Levi Strauss & Co. to bring the Food Truck Tour to Miami Dade College’s North and Wolfson campuses, as well as Broward College! From Tuesday to Thursday, Engage Miami registered over 1.6K voters, shared non-partisan voting information, and handed out snacks—creating a vibrant atmosphere for college students and community members to celebrate democracy. Beyond the tour, they also tabled at 12 additional schools, offering voter registration and resources.

Forward Montana went above and beyond, bringing a total of 34 National Voter Registration celebrations to nine different cities across the state from September 12 to 22! Organizers met with their communities at college campuses, public libraries, drag shows, farmers markets, and more—bringing voter engagement to every corner of the state and ensuring registering was both fun and accessible. Across all events, Forward Montana collected roughly 1.1K Pledges to Vote.

Leaders Igniting Transformation celebrated National Voter Registration Week with a LITWide Tour across Madison, Racine/Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Green Bay! Focusing on engaging young Black and Brown voters, they provided VR opportunities including brunch, a cookout, happy hours, and booths at University of Wisconsin’s Parkside and Milwaukee campuses, culminating in over 1.2K Pledges to Vote.

New Era Colorado visited eight schools throughout the state, registering students and educating them on the power of their vote! They left no stone unturned by engaging with young people on Instagram and X, encouraging them to take advantage of their state’s online registration opportunity. Even after hours, they kept the momentum going by setting up two additional voter registration tables, including one at the Usher concert in Denver!

MOVE Texas spread out throughout the Lone Star State to register young people to vote with pizza parties and Chappell Roan impersonations. Their main events took place at Texas A&M International University and the University of Houston, where hundreds of spectators gathered to watch Registration Rumbles and learn how voting is the first step in the fight for their rights! Overall, MOVE registered over 1.8K voters!

One APIA Nevada and ACDC worked together to host two Puppies & Boba events in Las Vegas and Reno. Puppy adoptions, live music, free food, and free boba united their communities and gave them the perfect opportunities to register and educate voters. One APIA Nevada also connected with students at Shadow Ridge High School, raising awareness about Gen Z's low voter turnout and assisting them in filling out voter registration forms.

NCAAT kicked off an NVRD Week of Action by visiting seven colleges in North Carolina, partnering with 16 organizations to host 23 different events! Students got the chance to register, ask questions, pledge to vote, and enjoy free food and boba. By the end of the week, NCAAT registered over 600 voters and collected more than 600 Pledge to Vote cards.

Loud Light set up shop on college campuses in Kansas to make sure young voters are 100% prepared for the upcoming election. Along with helping students register, Loud Light also dedicated time to emphasizing the importance of making a voting plan—knowing where to vote, how to find nonpartisan resources, and who to vote for before election day.

Mississippi Votes marked National Voter Registration Week by connecting with young people in high schools, colleges, and communities across the state. From September 16 to 21, MS Votes partnered with local organizations, businesses, and artists to host a variety of events, from registration drives to concerts and parties, offering free events and voter resources throughout Central Mississippi, South Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast.

Austin Officially Declares Sept 17 NVRD

The City of Austin presented MOVE Texas with an official proclamation of September 17th as National Voter Registration Day! Amber Mills, MOVE Texas’ Senior Democracy Reform Organizer, praised the proclamation as a testament to the city's commitment to empowering residents to participate in democracy, despite state-wide efforts to impose "deliberate barriers to silence the voice of a young and diverse electorate."

Georgia Youth Walk Out for Gun Safety

Thousands of students, parents, teachers, and gun control advocates across Georgia participated in a walkout organized by GYJC and March for Our Lives on Friday, Sept 20, demanding “a future free from gun violence” following the Sept 4th mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder. Students called for action, specifically advocating for the passage of safe gun storage laws in the next legislative session.

Mississippi Votes’ Democracy in Action Convening

MS Votes hosted the DIA Convening, with panels focused on expanding access to the polls and voter education, especially for young people. For example, “A lot of people think that because you got pulled over, or because you have fines, tickets or you got arrested, that you can’t vote, and that’s not the case,” MS Votes Policy and Engagement Strategist, Jarrius Adams said.

OSA Highlight: Appalachian Young Voters

Featuring an interview with Ohio Student Association organizer Ashley Stewart, this article dives into the power of young people in Appalachia and their undeniable potential as a voting bloc.  Stewart‘s story is an amazing representation of OSA’s mission to empower and educate youth so they can imagine and fight for a better future.

Polling Young Voters of Color in North Carolina

New polling from NCAAT explores what mobilizes BIPOC youth in North Carolina, as well as the recently increased interest in the upcoming elections. Su Cho, head of data management, says NCAAT is “turning this surge of enthusiasm into informed action, ensuring that BIPOC youth not only understand the significance of their vote but are empowered to participate fully in the democratic process.

Meeting Young Voters on Their Turf—College Campuses

Tai Yang-Abreu, the Washington Bus’ organizing manager, speaks about the importance of engaging with young voters and their communities before the election. She emphasized that this election is more than just national, stating that “activating one’s voice through voting is one of the most important ways a person can support the issues they care about locally.”

National Voter Registration Day kicks off the season, but it’s just the beginning! Follow us and the Alliance Network to hear about all the exciting local efforts as they happen!

Here’s to more celebrations of democracy and community. 

Stay tuned for National Voter Education Week and Vote Early Day in October!

Selasi Tagbor Morales

Communications Coordinator