Register to Vote

Important Links

Project Vote Smart
(Project Vote Smart guides are available in the library!)

Important Dates

On-campus voter registration!
Wednesday, September 22
Activity Period

RBC Campus Debate Watch
Event Location — RBC Student Center
Date & Time — Thursday, September 30 at 8 am
(actual debate beings at 9 pm)
Refreshments — Pizza, chips, and drinks
Admission — Open to the campus community and public
at no charge

10/4 — Last day to register to vote
10/28 — Last day to apply for absentee ballot by mail
10/30 — Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person
11/2 — Election Day!

Library Display

RBC students Sean Samford and Kenny Stevens

Voting Milestones

Women and the Right to Vote

1890 – Wyoming entered the Union and became the first state whose constitution accorded women the right to vote.
1920 – The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in elections.
Around the world, women were given national voting rights just prior to and throughout the twentieth century:
New Zealand – 1893; Australia – 1902; Finland – 1906; Norway – 1913; Britain – 1928; France – 1944; Belgium – 1949; Switzerland – 1971. Kuwait, however, continues to deny voting rights to women.

African-Americans and the Right to Vote

1870 – The 15th Amendment granted citizens of all races the right to vote.
1965 – The Voting Rights Act was passed to prevent legal barriers and intimidation from diminishing the voting rights of African-Americans.

Additional Voting Amendments

1804 – The 12th Amendment required electors to cast distinct ballots for the president and vice president. Amendment was necessitated by the 1800 election where Thomas Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr received the same number of electoral votes.
1913 – The 17th Amendment provided for the direct election of senators rather than leaving the decision up to state legislatures.
1961 – The 23rd Amendment assigned electoral votes to the District of Columbia.
1964 – The 24th Amendment abolished poll tax.
1971 – The 26th Amendment lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

Electoral College and the Popular Vote

1824 – John Q. Adams is granted presidency by the House of Representatives with fewer popular and electoral votes than his opponent, Democrat Andrew Jackson.
1876 – Rutherford B. Hayes wins the presidential election with fewer popular votes than his opponent, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden.
1888 – Benjamin Harrison wins the presidential election with fewer popular votes than his opponent, Democrat Grover Cleveland.
2000 – George W. Bush wins the presidential election with fewer popular votes than his opponent, Democrat Al Gore.