Participating in National Voter Registration Day

Voting is one of the most important civic responsibilities we have as citizens of this country, and the results of every election are critical to helping shape the future of our country. We believe every American should exercise their essential right to vote and make their voice heard.

In the 2016 presidential election, over 65 million people – or one in four eligible voters in the United States – were unregistered, and over half reported never even being asked to register. Communities already underrepresented in the electorate – those in the Latino, Asian and Black communities – saw lagging participation with high numbers of unregistered voters at 30%, 27% and 17% respectively. In a 2020 study, more than 27% of unregistered voters have reported not being registered because they didn’t know how, they kept forgetting, they didn’t have time, were too busy, or they recently moved. Among unregistered voters ages 18-24, this number was even higher at 42%. 

That’s why Capital One is committed to helping bridge the information gap that prevents voting-eligible citizens from getting registered to vote, casting a ballot, and having their voices heard in our democracy. To ease the process we are actively encouraging all eligible associates to participate in the presidential election, and expanding our internal and external communication efforts to ensure people have information on how, when and where to vote, directly at their fingertips.

Empowering Associates to Vote

This year, Capital One joined the Civic Alliance, Voter Registration Week, and Time to Vote initiatives to publically pledge that we will educate and empower associates to vote, and help decrease the number of unregistered eligible voters across the country. We also want to ensure that every eligible associate is able to step away from work to vote at a time that is convenient for them. And in light of health concerns and fear of long lines on election day, we have increased associates’ paid voting leave benefits for the upcoming election. 

“As an organization, we believe nothing is more powerful than the progress which comes from our freedom to express ideas, exercise discourse and choose our own leadership to guide our communities and this great nation forward,” said Andy Navarrete, Capital One’s Executive Vice President of External Affairs.

Opening the Capital One Arena to our Community 

Recently, we announced the opening up of the Capital One Arena as an early voting location and election day supercenter to offer DC voters the opportunity to register, cast their ballot or drop off mail-in ballots. Providing additional voting sites and expanding access to safe locations addresses new barriers to voting brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Capital One Arena is one of many NBA facilities across the country to open as a voting location in an effort to increase access to voting. Converting their home courts into polling places was a primary goal of the social justice coalition formed by the league’s players. 

Every year, millions of eligible voters are unable to cast a ballot because of a missed registration deadline, outdated registration information, or other problems with their voter registration. We hope this #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, you take the time to register to vote in preparation to cast your ballot. For more information based on your state, visit vote.gov.