County clerk talks upcoming election on National Voter Registration Day

“If you want to physically come in and get registered, you have until 5 o’clock on October 7th,” said Baack-Garvey.

Thomas reportingit's national voter registration day -- a nationwide, nonpartisan effort to get more people to cast their vote.

But in buchanan county, 2,000 people are already voting for the november election- as early as tuesday morning.

Sot: mary baack-garvey, buch.

Co.

Clerk- "we've already had two people here at the counter at 7:55 a.m.

This morning to vote absentee, so it's going to be busy."

This upcoming presidential election is going to be one of a kind sot: dr. melinda kovacs, mwsu- "there's a lot going on in terms of political conflict, there's a lot going on in terms of battles over issues of racial justice, racial equity, there are climate catastrophes, people fleeing from fire and did i mention the pandemic?"

Political experts say because of the election's high stakes, the election could be too overwhelming for some to vote or forces others to the polls or mailbox sot: kovacs- "but the situation is going to divide people's responses either into the 'i just want to huddle and cocoon inside my house,' or 'oh my goodness, i have to use my voice as a voter to participate in the democratic process because otherwise who knows what's going to come next?"

But political scientists do anticipate a higher voter turnout but before you can vote -- you have to register.

And the buchan county clerk says there's more registrations this year than the election four years ago sot: baack- garvey- "online registrations we're probably averaging 150 a day.

It's crazy now.

A lot of them aren't all new.

Some of them are address changes and maybe a duplicate voter, but at least they're making the effort to make sure they're registering or changing their address.

I'm proud of us."

But for those who haven't registered to vote -- you're on a time crunch.

Sot: kovacs- "if you want to physically come in and get registered, you have until 5 o'clock on october 7th."

So who needs to register to vote?

Say you've moved since the last election, gotten married or you'll be first time voter --then you'll need to register -- online or in person before october 7th to vote!

And buchanan county is making is really easy.

Sot: kovacs- "we'll fill it out for them and be done.

It only takes about two minutes to fill out their form and they'll be done."

Reporting in st.

Joseph, kilee thomas, kq2 news baack-garvey says if you aren't sure if you're