Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Speak Out Ahead of U.S. Presidential Election: ‘Every Voice Matters’

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell Foundation is mobilizing voters before Election Day in the U.S. in November.

On Sept. 17 — otherwise known as National Voter Registration Day — the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s charitable organization released a recap about how the Archewell team wrote personalized letters encouraging unregistered voters to register to vote. The group used Vote Forward’s letter-writing tool as a resource.

“Voting is not just a right; it’s a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities,” according to a statement shared on the Archewell Foundation website, along with photos from the effort.

“At The Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, no matter one’s political party, is at the heart of a more just and equitable world. By participating in initiatives like this, we aim to amplify the message that every voice matters,” the statement continued.

“We invite you to join us in this important effort,” the message said, linking out to Vote Forward for more information as well as Vote.gov.

“Together, let’s make sure every eligible voter is informed and empowered to participate in shaping America’s future,” the Archewell Foundation statement concluded.

While Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, weren’t pictured participating in the volunteer activity, they have previously used their platform to advocate around the importance of voting on National Voter Registration Day.

In September 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared in a video shared during an ABC broadcast special announcing the 2020 TIME100 contingent, where they encouraged voter registration. It was significant as it marked the couple’s first joint television appearance since stepping back from their royal roles in the U.K. earlier that year and relocating to Meghan’s home state of California.

“Now we’re just six weeks out from Election Day, and today is National Voter Registration Day,” Meghan said in the video shared by TIME. “Every four years we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is,” she continued, seemingly referring to the presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in 2020.

“When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do, and you deserve to be heard,” Meghan said.

“This election I’m not going to be able to vote here in the U.S. But many of you may not know that I haven’t been able to vote in the U.K. my entire life,” said Prince Harry, apparently referencing the British royal family’s political neutrality. “As we approach this November, it’s vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.”

That year, the Duchess of Sussex made modern royal history as the first member of the royal family to vote in a U.S. presidential election by casting a ballot.

At the time, a source told PEOPLE that the duchess was “voting in this election,” but declined to disclose whether she voted early or locally in California, where she and Prince Harry live with their children Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

A friend further confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been following the run-up to the 2020 election cycle closely.

“They have taken a keen interest in this election and I’m sure they are eagerly awaiting the outcome,” the friend said.

Before Election Day, Meghan’s friend Gloria Steinem told Access Hollywood that she and the Duchess of Sussex cold-called voters together on the day of their backyard chat to discuss voting, representation at the polls and what it means to be a feminist. Around the same time, Meghan revealed her plans to vote in the U.S. presidential election when she joined 99 other influential women — including Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey — in sharing their reasons for heading to the polls with Marie Claire.

“I know what it’s like to have a voice, and also what it’s like to feel voiceless,” the Duchess of Sussex said in a statement. “I also know that so many men and women have put their lives on the line for us to be heard. And that opportunity, that fundamental right, is in our ability to exercise our right to vote and to make all of our voices heard.”

“One of my favorite quotes, and one that my husband and I have referred to often, is from Kate Sheppard, a leader in the suffragist movement in New Zealand, who said, ‘Do not think your single vote does not matter much. The rain that refreshes the parched ground is made up of single drops,’ ” she continued. “That is why I vote.”

On Election Day in November 2022, the Archewell Foundation posted a photo of Meghan wearing an “I Voted” sticker in a news release titled “Vote.” The short message encouraged Americans to go vote, along with tips for voting in person.