Celebrate Vote Early Day. It’s a nonpartisan investment in our democracy | Opinion

This year, thousands of nonprofits, businesses, campus groups, election leaders and other voting enthusiasts are participating in Vote Early Day — including 60 organizations in Missouri and Kansas. They’re all encouraging Americans to vote early in state and local elections nationwide.

Through their fun and engaging activities, such as parties at the polls, marches to early voting sites, educational events, voter outreach phone calls, door-to-door visits and online campaigns, they will reduce barriers to participation in our democracy and ensure more people have their voices heard this fall. Join the growing number of people making Election Day the last day to vote by casting your ballot on Vote Early Day, Oct. 28.

But why vote early? It’s a question the organizers behind this civic holiday had as well. In 2019, a group of civic engagement experts created Vote Early Day to build on the success of National Voter Registration Day and give people a celebratory day to encourage them to cast their ballot. Voting early was not the initial focus, but after days of discussion about the challenges people faced when they waited to vote on Election Day, the idea of building a day focused on early voting quickly solidified and became the central theme of the day and our growing movement.

Voting ahead of Election Day offers the convenience of choosing a date and time that fits your busy schedule. Lines are often shorter, so you can get in, vote quickly and get on with your day. With most states changing their voting laws over the past two years, you may not have the proper ID or go to the wrong polling place. When you vote early, you have plenty of time to resolve the problem and cast your ballot. Early voting also helps you overcome unexpected barriers and last-minute issues that may prevent you from casting your vote. We’ve seen even well-planned efforts to vote on Election Day fall apart when problems arise.

Vote Early Day is a nonpartisan holiday created to provide all Americans with the tools and information they need to overcome these obstacles. It also provides an exciting opportunity for everyone to celebrate and engage in their democracy at a time when politics can often be off-putting and divisive.

Through a diverse set of partners, Vote Early Day provides people with the information they need to vote before Election Day. Every business, local government office, educator, nonprofit, faith community, student group, media company, athlete and celebrity involved plays a vital role. Each group has the ability to create a celebration that addresses the specific needs of its community, customers or constituents.

On Vote Early Day 2024, we saw more than 5.9 million votes cast — the second-highest number of early ballots in October, according to the U.S. Elections Project. Vote Early Day partners claimed 2.9 million of the ballots cast that day at or because of the events they carried out. This year, we anticipate the trend of people voting early will continue to grow, with more Americans taking advantage of opportunities to cast their ballots early by mail or in person. This year, more than 2,700 Vote Early Day celebrations will take place in every state across the nation.

While many voters are eager for the crucial races in the upcoming 2026 midterm election year, we will not allow 2025, filled with thousands of state elections and thousands of critical local elections, to be dismissed as an “off year.” This year, local leadership will be chosen with mayors, city council members, school board trustees, judges and other community leaders on the ballot, in addition to critical special elections and ballot measures. It’s these races that are closest to the people who affect our day-to-day lives the most, even if they do not get the attention of statewide and national elections. In many situations, these contests can be decided by a handful of votes.

This fall, let’s ensure that nothing can stop us from sharing our voices by casting your ballot on Vote Early Day. Together, we can ensure no one is left out of our democracy.

Bryce Bennett is the executive director of Vote Early Day, a national nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to empowering Americans to overcome Election Day hurdles by voting early.