If there’s anything that the year 2020 has proven, it’s that it’s not willing to go down easily and refuses to be forgotten. With the ongoing pandemic, rising racial tensions and the election quickly approaching, it’s easy to feel lost and overwhelmed. Where do you start if you want to make a difference? But there’s good news! Registering to vote has just become easier than ever with Voteology.
The women behind Voteology noticed a need for change
The 2016 election was a shock for many people all over the country. It left many young millennials confused, because their votes didn’t seem to make an impact. This was a common issue the founder of Voteology, Juliana Bain, noticed during her freshman year at Cornell University. “My peers, irrespective of their political orientation, didn’t feel like their votes matter, and they did not vote,” Bain says. “Of my friends who voted, most chose where to vote based on convenience.” There’s also the common misconception that you can’t register to vote in your college town, but in some areas you totally can and, if possible, it’s possible you should.
College students aren’t afraid to make change
Many people say that your high school years are your formative years, but it’s really the time you spend at college. When you get to college, you really begin to learn more about yourself as an individual, and begin to form your own opinions and learn how to stick up for them. Bain thinks there’s a common belief about college students that claims otherwise. “In reality, our passion for issues runs deep on such topics as the environment, equality in all its dimensions, and preventing gun violence. Building the team was the easiest part of the process!” she says. College students all over the country are taking to their streets and social media to create the change they believe in. No matter the political side, it’s obvious that this generation is scared to talk about the hard stuff.
Women get the job done
It wasn’t on purpose that this girl group came together to create Voteology, but just like Bob Ross said, happy accidents! If there’s one thing we all know for sure it’s that making a place for yourself in this world as a woman can be a daunting task, but these women took it head-on. Abernathy shares that this is no different when it comes to the world of politics. “We’re proud to carve out our own space in this male-dominated field,” she says, “and we want to serve as inspiration to other women thinking about getting involved.”
In three quick and easy steps, Voteology guides you through determining where you should register to vote (at home or at school, though that may not be allowed in every state). Voteology also keeps an updated link page for each state’s registration rules and deadlines, so you’ll always be able to stay in the know. The site shares general information on the dangers of gerrymandering (the illegal practice of unfairly manipulating district boundaries for political gain), too, and how it can affect your state’s electoral college vote when it comes time for the November 3rd election, and offers additional resources from podcasts to academic papers to help better understand what exactly gerrymandering is and its effects.
Registering to vote – and actually voting – is more important than ever. It’s the most sure-fire way for your voice and opinions to be heard. Check out Voteology, get registered, vote locally and stay informed!