Sept. 24 is National Voter Registration Day, a nationwide effort to register more than 250,000 people before the state and local elections.

Community partners and nonprofits, like the White Plains League of Women Voters, are helping lead the way.

"We run into young people who aren't sure what they're voting on or what elections are coming up," said Barbara Noach, who is with the organization. "They don't have the awareness so it's nice to bring it onto their horizon."

The next general election is Nov. 5. The deadline in New York to register to vote online, by mail and in person is on Oct. 11.

According to the National Voter Registration Day website, more than 800,000 voters across the country used this day to register to vote last year.

"Protests are nice, tweeting is nice, but the real power is in the voting booth and that's where the changes are made," Noach said.

National Voter Registration Day is also for people who have already registered. Registered voters can find out who is running in the next election and prepare to cast their ballots early this year.