A record-shattering 800,000 people registered to vote on National Voter Registration Day

More than 800,000 people registered to vote last month on National Voter Registration Day, breaking the previous record of 771,321 voter registrations in 2016.

The first National Voter Registration Day was held in 2012, and this year, the goal was to get 300,000 to register. Brian Miller, executive director of Nonprofit VOTE and coordinator of National Voter Registration Day, told Time he was "surprised" by how many people registered on Sept. 25. "I think it's a sign of the interest in the midterms and the interest in having this unified day of action," Miller said.

In the midterm elections this November, voters will decide 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the Senate, and 39 state and territorial governorships, in addition to state and local races. Miller said he thinks people are now realizing that "midterms do matter and that it's vital for people to get engaged."