The League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County, will be at UT Tyler, Tyler Junior College, Texas College, the Tyler Public Library and the Glass Recreation Center on Sept. 17 for National Voter Registration Day. (Tyler Morning Telegraph File)

Local organizations are looking to help people register to vote so they are eligible to make their voice heard in the upcoming presidential election.

“People think their vote doesn’t matter, but you won’t change anything unless you believe your vote does matter and go out and use it. It’s the most important thing we can do,” said Allison Pollan, League of Women Voters Tyler/Smith County board member.

Registering to vote can feel overwhelming to some, but there are resources in Smith County to help. Volunteer deputy registrars (VDR) will be set up at multiple locations Tuesday, which is National Voter Registration Day.

The last day to register to vote before the upcoming presidential election is 5 p.m. Oct. 7.

Since January 2023, about 250 people have completed training to become a VDR. VDRs are appointed by county voter registrars and charged with increasing voter registration in the state.

Local volunteer deputy registrars distribute and accept applications but don’t register voters. Individuals are not registered until after their applications undergo verification checks to verify their citizenship status and identity through the Secretary of State’s office.

“There’s an upswing in training for VDRs leading up to a presidential election,” Smith County Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon said. “There are a lot of people that think the presidential elections are the only important election, so that’s the only one they participate in.”

Registering to vote grants access to more than just the presidential election.

Voters can participate in local elections, like city and school board races, directly impacting their community. Additionally, registering allows participation in primary elections, where political parties select candidates for general elections.

Organizations like the League of Women Voters, Este Poder and various sororities and fraternities play a crucial role in voter registration efforts, encouraging their members to take VDR training.

Este Poder member Valeria Rodriguez, a 19-year-old from Tyler, qualified to be a volunteer deputy registrar after a class on Sept. 5. Rodriguez is concerned about people not caring to vote because they think elections don’t make a difference.

She’s said elections, not just the big ones, affect people’s everyday lives.

“We need a lot more participation, especially from the younger folks,” Rodriguez said. “Getting the younger folks to start coming out to the elections and to the polls is really important.”

These groups, among other civic initiatives, focus on educating and assisting people in registering to vote, ensuring communities are informed and ready to participate in elections.

The League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County is partnering with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at the University of Texas at Tyler to register voters. The league will also assist with voter registration at Tyler Junior College, Texas College, the Tyler Public Library and the Glass Recreation Center.

Register to vote at the following times and locations on Tuesday:

Texas College — The Connector, 2404 N. Grand Ave., at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tyler Junior College — Student Union, 1400 E 5th St. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tyler Junior College — West Campus, 1530 SSW Loop 323 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

UT Tyler — Patio at the Student Center, 3900 University Blvd. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.

Smith Count Elections Office — 302 E. Ferguson St. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ebenezer AME Church — 1101 W. Queen St. at 6 p.m.

East Texas Book Bank will hold an event from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Este Poder is holding an event at UT Tyler on Harvey Deck from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As a volunteer deputy registrar, Rodriguez aims to encourage more people to vote and empower them to use their voices. She wants to help individuals make informed choices that suit their needs and values.

Tyler resident Timothy Mast said voting is a right we have as American citizens, and people need to know the importance of that. Mast said many people want to vote but often don’t know how to navigate the process.

He sees his involvement in voter registration efforts as a way of giving back to the community.

“Voting is such an important part of our democracy, so I want to do anything I can to help and get people to turn up to vote, and this is one way I can do that,” Pollan said.

Outside registering at events, people can register by applying. Applications can be obtained in the following ways:

Contact the Election Administration Office at 904-590-4777 or by emailing sceletion@smith-county.com.

Printing the application from the website smith-county.com.

Requesting an application from a public library or government agency, such as Health and Human Services, Texas Workforce Commission or the Post Office.

Register to vote through the Department of Public Safety (DPS) when updating a driver’s license or identification card.

Visit votetexas.gov to fill out the application online– People must print, sign and mail in this application. At this website, you can also check your voter status to see if you are registered or not.

Volunteer deputy registrars can distribute and accept applications.

The League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County will be at UT Tyler, Tyler Junior College, Texas College, the Tyler Public Library and the Glass Recreation Center on Sept. 17 for National Voter Registration Day.

People can contact Este Poder for assistance in registering to vote.

Other than DPS, there is no online voter registration in Texas.