Opinion: Indiana is competitive. Let's not finish last in voter registration.

When I think of my home state, I think of high-level competitions. Indiana is home to world-famous racing events, we host major competitions including the Super Bowl and NCAA tournaments and we have professional sports teams.

Simply put, Hoosiers like competitions. So, it's extremely disappointing to me that when it comes to voting and voter registration, we’re apparently comfortable at the back of the pack.

According to the most recent Indiana Civic Health Index, Indiana:

• Ranked 50th in voting in the 2022 elections (second to last)
• Has consistently ranked in the bottom 10 in voting for the last 13 years
• Moved backward in the rankings for both voting participation and voter registration in the last 11 plus years.

That’s the bad news. Here’s the good news: this competition isn’t over. Hoosiers have a chance to make a move as voter registration is open until Oct. 7.

The Hoosiers I know have great civic pride, and just aren’t aware of how far behind we’ve fallen. So, here’s my fourth-quarter, 50-laps-to-go, whatever-situation-you-want-to-imagine speech:

Now is the time to check your registration, either with your county clerk, or at www.indianavoters.in.gov .

Check with family and friends to see if they are registered and have a plan to vote. Check with older family members and check with those who vote infrequently! Make sure everyone is registered and has a plan to vote.

You don’t have to mention who you are voting for, or anything “political.” Just talk about how it’s important to have your voice heard by voting and ask if they have a plan to vote.

This year, we vote for the highest office, the president; we vote for one of our U.S. senators and multiple legislators to both Congress and the Indiana General Assembly. We also vote for our state’s chief executive, the governor, our top law enforcement officer, the attorney general and for, or against, the retention of judges on the Indiana Supreme Court. There are races that affect your life up and down the ballot.

We’re in the back of the pack, but we have time to catch up. Will you do your part?

Julia Vaughn is Executive Director of Common Cause Indiana, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Opinion: Indiana is competitive. Let's not finish last in voter registration.