There are official days for almost everything, but today's is pretty important. It's National Voter Registration day, which is a national campaign to encourage citizens to get prepared ahead of election day.

Six-million Americans didn't vote in the 2008 presidential election because they didn't know how to register or missed the registration deadline. That's how the National Voter Registration Day came to be. You can register until October 19 by mail or in person at your Municipal Clerks office up until the Friday before the election.

If the presidential debates inspired you to vote, for Wisconsin voters, it's your lucky day. Previously in the state, residents could only vote early two weeks prior to the election. However, after a federal court ruling struck down laws that restricted in person absentee voting, Wisconsin residents are now voting earlier than ever.The polling center inside Wausau City Hall has had early voting open for a couple of days. So far, there's been good voter turn out. In the first day open, about 60 people came out to vote. But, early voting came with quite the work load for staff.

"We hustled to get all the ballots out," said Wausau City Clerk Toni Rayala.

The city clerk along with other staff at city hall have had their hands full as they had to get ready for voters earlier than usual.

"I know in our office it was a scramble because we had to do so much preparation ahead of time," said Rayala. "We had to set up poll booths and we had to do staff training to get things ready to go."

The State Elections Commission reports over the past couple years early voting has been rising in Wisconsin. Last year, Rayala says Wausau had thousands of residents vote early. Now that there's more time, it may help ease voter traffic on election day.

"Because we're doing it so much earlier people will trickle in all along and we'll won't have the long lines," said Rayala.

Everyone in the state can vote, but it's not easily accessible in every area. Cities, towns and villages are able to set their own hours for early voting. In some smaller areas, you may need to make an appointment with your Municipal Clerk. Even though there's still lots of work to be done, these city employees are ready.

"It is exciting! Lots of coordinating with the staff out here and we've already hired all of our poll workers," said Rayala.

You can find your polling center

Early voting is open now until two days prior to election day.