With many states worried about a resurgence of the coronavirus, and numbers on the rise, there is expected to be a record number of people who are going to vote by mail to avoid lines at the local polling place. Of course, this does not mean that voting in person is not going to occur, but it will probably look a lot different this year. Election Day is Nov. 3, which is not that far away, so now is the time to get prepared and informed.
Here’s what you need to know about voting this year and how to keep yourself safe:
Mail-in Voting
Every state offers some sort of mail-in voting or absentee ballot system. The actual intricacies of who can vote by mail, and how to, vary depending on which state you live in. Mail-in voting and absentee voting are basically the same thing, just some states prefer to use one phrasing over another.
For example, five states (WA, OR, CO, UT, HI) conduct all of their elections through a mail-in system, where all registered voters get mailed a ballot before Election Day that is their responsibility to send back via mail or dropped off at a voting location. Their “all-mail” voting process is analogous with mail-in voting and they use absentee voting to describe the ballot that is sent to registered voters of those states that are currently somewhere else. However, due to the pandemic, California, Nevada, New Jersey and Vermont will also be automatically mailing out their ballots to all voters this year.
The rest of the states require you to request an absentee ballot in advance, and are split into groups of states that require a pre approved excuse and those that do not need a reason for your request. Although this year, more states are opening up their absentee ballot qualifications. While some states in prior years required you to be out of state, ill, serving in the military, etc. in order to receive a mail-in ballot, now people can use “pandemic fear” as an excuse. You will still have to request a ballot in advance, but some states will be mailing absentee applications this year for people to fill out and send in.
Now what you need to know about voting in Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Louisiana is that these states are not accepting pandemic fears as a valid excuse to receive an absentee ballot. This means that unless you have a pre-approved reason for why you physically cannot show up at your designated polling place, you will not be able to receive a ballot and will have to vote in person.
When sending in your mail-in vote or absentee ballot, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the cut-off period that states are extending on when your vote will count. This date and time varies by individual state. Most states are requiring that your ballot be in by the end of polling or by the end of the business day. Check what your state says here.
Prioritizing your health
If you do live in a state that is not allowing absentee ballots due to nerves about COVID-19, you should still exercise your right to vote, but also make sure to prioritize your health. What you need to know about voting and staying safe while at your physical polling location is:
-
Avoiding lines when possible
-
Practice physical distancing
-
Wear a facemask
-
Vote early or try and arrive at your polling place at an off-peak time
-
Bring hand sanitizer
-
Bring your own black pen and e-stylus