The Village of Peoria Heights is encouraging local residents to fulfill two of their responsibilities as citizens in the coming weeks.

First, Tanisha Cayson, the Heights resident who organized a racial justice march in the Heights back in June, is putting together a voter registration event at Tower Park from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Computers will be made available for people to register online. There will be information on voter suppression “so people can understand … how it’s their right to vote,” said Cayson, as well as on when and where they can exercise that right.

Given the pandemic, physical distancing will be practiced and those who attend are asked to wear masks. If the weather does not cooperate, the event could move inside Village Hall.

“I want to be able to encourage people to actually get out and vote,” said Cayson. “Whether you’re Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, all of those are invited.”

“I would also like to point out that Tanisha was the individual that administered the peaceful march we had about six weeks ago, which went very smoothly,” said Village Administrator Dustin Sutton. “It was really a seamless and nice event. I think she should be recognized for that, as well.”

The Village Board unanimously supported the event.

Meanwhile, Trustee Elizabeth Khazzam is asking residents to perform another civic duty by standing up and being counted through the U.S. Census, if they haven’t done so already.

“Some things I didn’t know before now are how important it is as an indicator for funding in our community,” said Khazzam. “Millions of dollars are allocated to states and communities based on our count. It’s also mandated by the U.S. Constitution.”

For the first time this year, citizens can respond online, by phone, or by mail. The web address is my2020census.gov. The phone number is 844-330-2020. To exercise the mail option, please just return the postcard that should have been mailed to your home.