Lodi library to host voter registration event today

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and the Lodi Public Library is getting in on the action with a special event this afternoon and evening.

The library will help local residents register or pre-register to vote; change their name, address or political party; and look up current polling place information.

“Registering to vote allows individuals throughout the Lodi community and all of California to participate in representative democracy, often for the very first time,” said Susan Madison, a librarian’s associate who helped to organize the event.

The library will be passing out voting information and stickers to everyone who registers, as well as printed flags while supplies last.

National Voter Registration Day was founded in 2012 as a holiday to celebrate American democracy, as well as to encourage civil engagement. It’s held on the fourth Tuesday of each September, with the goal of getting people registered in time for any November elections.

Volunteers at the library will be passing out voter registration forms to anyone eligible to vote. In California, that means state residents who are U.S. citizens, who will be 18 years of age or older by the next election on Nov. 6, who are not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction, and who are not subject to conservatorship.

California residents do not need to have a permanent address in the state to vote, so long as they spend most of their time in the state, according to the California Secretary of State’s website.

“The person must provide a description of the location (where they spend most of their time) that is clear enough for the elections official to establish that person’s right to vote in a particular precinct,” the site states.

The library does ask that anyone registering have an address where they can receive mail to include on their form. Voter information pamphlets will be available in English, Spanish and Hindi.

Part of the event’s focus is to get teenagers involved in the democratic process early.

“We are excited to take advantage of a relatively new law in California that allows eligible 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote, and also share with them the Lodi Public Library’s new Teen Center,” Madison said.

Teens who pre-register to vote and meet the state’s requirements will be automatically registered to vote on their 18th birthday.

At today’s event, voters will also be able to learn how they can honor a veteran with their vote, Madison said.

“Throughout our nation’s history, brave service men and women have sacrificed to protect and defend our democracy,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said.

Those who choose to dedicate their vote to a veteran or active-duty member of the military can receive a certificate or pin for their vote, and they can opt to have their veteran receive an email notifying them that someone has voted in their honor.

The voter registration table will be located right outside of the new Teens@201 space.