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An ad hoc committee that helped promote the efforts of the U.S. Census in Monroe County is focusing its efforts on another national civic issue: voter registration

An ad hoc committee that helped promote the efforts of the U.S. Census in Monroe County is focusing its efforts on another national civic issue: voter registration.

Monroe City Clerk Michelle LaVoy said discussions are in the works about how Monroe County will promote and participate in National Voter Registration Day, which takes place Sept. 22. The goal, she said, is to reach out and educate voters on the process of voting. Her job duties include running elections for the City of Monroe.

The National Voter Registration Day campaign reports on its website that 473,725 people across the country registered to vote as a result of its efforts last year. The campaign is meant to be non-partisan effort, emphasizing the celebration and excitement of participating in the process.

Given the era of COVID-19, the committee, now working under the name Monroe Votes, expects it will need to be creative in promoting voter registration and election participation.

But thats a challenge they have already had to face. COVID-19 related shutdowns started in mid-March, just as the Monroe County Counts committee was putting the final touches on a marketing and campaign blitz encouraging Monroe County residents to participate in the April 1 Census. The original marketing plan for the Census count included hosted information tables at spring festivals. After the festivals canceled, the group quickly shifted to a mix of paid advertising, social media and outreach at smaller events such as food pantry pop up stops.

Tom Adamich, professor of technical services and reference librarian at Monroe County Community College, was part of the Census committee. LaVoy said Adamich suggested the committee stay together for a voter registration campaign blitz; and the transition worked out well. The committee already had a mix of people from Monroe Countys schools, libraries, government offices and non-profit groups.

LaVoy said the City of Monroe is registered as an official partner with the National Voter Registration campaign.

The National Voter Registration Day website is at https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org. The website has sample social media graphics, and the hashtag is #NationalVoterRegistrationDay.

Michigan voters can check their registration status at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us.

Excerpt from:
Local plans in the works for Voter Registration Day - Monroe Evening News