You want to vote in the 2024 election − here is how to make sure that your voice is heard

It’s that time again. Hill Street Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images by Amy Dacey, American University Voting will begin in many states in just a few weeks – Alabama became the first state to begin sending out mail-in ballots on Sept. 11, 2024. It’s one of 10 states that send mail-in ballots to voters more than 45 days before Election Day. Every state’s regulations and procedures are different, so it is vital that you understand the requirements and opportunities to vote where you live. Perhaps the biggest problem with American democracy is that so few people actually participate: In 2016, 40% of eligible American voters didn’t cast a ballot. In 2020, 34% of people who could have voted just didn’t. Check your registration Make sure that you are registered to vote at your current address. You may not have voted in a while, you may have moved or changed your name, or you may have forgotten whether you were properly registered the last time you voted. Your state’s secretary of state office or local board of elections may be a good place to start. You can also visit www.vote.org. It took only a few minutes online for me to verify my...