Voice

February 26, 2018

Online voter registration available, and VUMC encourages employees to register

VUMC supports Project Register, which seeks to get more Tennesseans to the polls.

Multi-ethnic group of people registering and voting in the November USA elections at their local polling station. Senior, African descent woman foreground holds VOTE sign.

To help drive awareness and increase voter participation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center has joined more than 70 other Middle Tennessee businesses, nonprofits and professional organizations in support of Project Register, an effort to raise awareness about the ease of online voter registration in Tennessee.

Project Register is a bipartisan initiative, spearheaded by two of Middle Tennessee’s elected officials — U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D) and State Sen. Steve Dickerson (R).

Registering to vote in Tennessee is easier than ever; in 2016, the Tennessee General Assembly approved online voter registration.

Tennessee is ranked 40th in the United States in voter registration, and 50th in voter turnout.

“Regardless of one’s political views, the statistics around voter participation should be concerning for all Tennesseans. The Medical Center avoids taking political positions but fully supports this collaborative effort to increase voter registration and the opportunity for all members of the VUMC community to participate, by voting, in the political process,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “As one of Tennessee’s largest employers we can help play an important role in this effort.”

To register to vote online, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Tennessee, must be 18 years old on or before the next election, and must not have been convicted of a felony, or, if you have, your voting rights must have been restored.

To register to vote online, go to https://ovr.govote.tn.gov/.

Residents must be registered to vote 30 days in advance before an election. Those who need to update their address or name must also do so before the deadline.

Photo by iStock