Around 59% of adults in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District — the district in which most Alpena News readers live — voted in the 2018 General Election.

That means 202,823 people who are old enough to vote didn’t cast a ballot.

And no judgment! There are lots of reasons for that. Some were disillusioned by the process. Some missed the deadline to register. Some had to work or care for their families on Election Day. And some were under the impression they couldn’t vote.

This year, instead of being disappointed with the voter turnout, let’s make sure people know they can make their voice heard.

Lots of misconceptions are out there about who can and cannot cast a ballot, so let’s do our part to make sure folks know they can vote. We can start with these basic questions:

Do you have a past criminal conviction? You can vote in the 2022 general election.

Are you on parole or probation? You can vote in the 2022 general election.

Do you have no driver license? You can vote in the 2022 general election.

Do you have no permanent home? You can vote in the 2022 general election.

Will you be out of town on Nov. 8? Doesn’t matter. You can vote NOW!

To register to vote in the state of Michigan, you must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years old on Election Day (you can register when you’re 17-and-a-half), be a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days by the time you vote, and you cannot currently be serving a sentence in jail or prison.

And, thanks to the 2018 Promote the Vote campaign, which made no-reason absentee voting and same-day voter registration available to all Michigan voters, you still have time to register. We’ve missed the deadline to register by mail, but you can head to your city or township clerk’s office any time between now and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, to register and vote in the general election.

And you can vote any time between now and Election Day, so there’s no need to wait in line on Election Day — you can make voting work with your personal schedule.

Or, if you’re like me, maybe you still get a little thrill from going in on that Tuesday morning and exercising your right to vote.

Voting should be easy. Voting should be secure. Regardless of which candidate you support, which neighborhood you live in, whether you live 12 miles from your polling place or two blocks from your polling place, you should be able to cast your vote in a way that fits with your work schedule, your access to transportation, your mobility concerns, your health, your obligations as a caregiver, or anything else that may keep you from voting on a specific day at a specific time.

Of course, being informed is key. Most of us probably have a plan of which federal and state officials we plan to select, but the bottom and back of the ballot is what could impact us most in our own communities. That’s where we get to decide on important local funding for schools, libraries, and public safety. Where we choose the leaders who will look out for our kids and neighbors by serving on our school boards and our city councils.

You can start with the League of Women Voters, who, for over a century, has been educating voters on candidates and issues in its nonpartisan voter guide. You can check out vote411.org to access the guide and get tips for making a plan to vote.

You can also reach out to other organizations you respect to see what they’re supporting and what kinds of questions they’re asking candidates.The Michigan League for Public Policy and Think Babies Michigan have also produced some guides for engaging with candidates, which can be found at mlpp.org/2022election.

So vote with your values on Nov. 8! Or this afternoon. Or next week Thursday.

And make sure to spread the word with your friends, neighbors and family. We are stronger when we use our voices.

Laura Millard Ross is communications director at the Michigan League for Public Policy.