Your Guide to How, When, & Where to Vote for the 2020 General Election

A guide explaining how, when, and where to vote in the 2020 general election. Including information by state and for Americans living abraod.

Countdown to Election Day

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My dear friends: Your vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union. – Congressman, John Lewis

Happy Election Year.

In the United States, we are entering into the most important election season of our lifetime. The outcome of these elections will have a national and global impact that will last generations. Aside from the Presidential seat, there are total of 35 Senate seats and 435 House seats up for election on November 3^rd.

One of the most detrimental things I hear young people say is, “I’m just not into politics” or “my vote doesn’t matter” both of these schools of thought need to be eradicated.

If you live in the US, you need to understand both the privilege and the importance of voting. Everything from what our kids are learning in school to social justice and global climate change are impacted by our vote. So many Americans depend on your vote whether it be relating to health care, immigration policy, social security, racial inequality, child care, LGBTQ rights, Women’s rights, or how our country handles a global pandemic etc. It is imperative that you are a contributing member of society and exercise your right to vote. It is also imperative that you are an educated voter. I implore you to take the time to understand the issues and vote, based on not only how you feel, but how it will impact our nation and the world.
Your vote DOES matter. While one single vote may seem insignificant in the sea of tens of millions, it’s not. Votes add up, ultimately if you want a candidate to win, they need the majority of the votes.

Absentee & Early Voting

It is evident that we are in the midst of a global pandemic. As a result, in-person voting may not only be challenging for some, but impossible. If you or a loved one have a pre-existing condition, are elderly or simply fear contracting/spreading the disease, mail-in voting may be necessary. It is also worth noting that if you live in a city or county that has removed/consolidated polling locations, you may want to consider mail-in voting to avoid extensive lines and restrictive hours in relation to the large number of voters. For example, on June 23^rd, Louisville had a single polling place for 600,000 residents.

Contrary to what our current president has stated, voter fraud has never been a significant issue in past elections. If you want to read more about the evidence behind this, take a look at this article recently published by Reuters.

As a result of the current voter suppression caused by the defunding of the USPS, you may be concerned about your ballot being counted on time. If you are looking to avoid this, locate your county election office or board of registrars to drop off your ballot there. If you live in Minnesota, here is a list of election offices by county. Remember to wear your mask and respect social distancing by staying 6ft apart at all times- this is required by every office!

It is imperative that you vote EARLY if you are planning on voting by mail. Below, I have included information regarding voting by mail for every state, including U.S citizens abroad. As soon as you receive your ballot, fill it out, and send it back immediately. If your state deems your mail-in ballot invalid due to an error, this will provide you enough time to make the correction and send it back. It will also allow for the USPS to have sufficient time to sort and send off the ballots before election deadlines. Unfortunately, if you live in Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, or South Carolina there are strict rules regarding who is eligible to vote by mail, and fear of coronavirus is not considered a valid excuse. However, if you live in one of these states and have a friend or family member who qualifies, educate them on how they can vote, as soon as possible.

Voting In-person on Election Day:

Make sure leading up to November you are closely following your local polling place, in case of any last-minute changes in location or time restrictions.
Prepare for longer than normal wait times at the polling place.
Wear a mask.
Bring proper identification, required by your state. Some states do not require any document in order to vote. Check your states current Voter Identification Laws.
Maintain social distancing rules.
If you are in line to vote BEFORE the polls close, you are eligible to vote. It’s in violation to your voter rights to be turned away. Do not let anyone turn you away.
Polling places are required to accommodate if you have a disability, enforced by the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984. Many states allow curbside voting and require the availability of voting aids. If this is something you need, make sure to ask for proper accommodations.

Below, you can find information regarding how to vote by mail, deadlines, how to track your ballot and your states rules and regulations surrounding mail-in voting.

Before you do anything, check to make sure you’re registered to vote! In many states, you are not able to register day of the election. In some states such as Alaska, you need to be registered as early as October 4^th. If you have time to read this, you have time to register- so do it now!