23 Oct Don’t Give up Your Right to Vote

If you are thinking you might not vote in the upcoming general election, the question is, why not? “My vote doesn’t matter” is often a response. If this is you, you are not alone. 41.3% of those eligible did not vote in the 2016 presidential election. The current president won the electoral college with only 27.3% of support from eligible voters. Hilary Clinton earned 28.5% of votes from eligible voters. (This marked just the 5^th time in US history that someone won the popular vote and lost the election. Read more about who it happened to and how it happens.)

Rather than affirming that your vote doesn’t count, it means voting is more important than ever, particularly in swing states such as Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Wisconsin.

If you think your vote doesn’t count, ask yourself why stories of voter suppression are still top of the news. On that topic, New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb’s film “Whose Vote Counts” premiered on PBS’ Frontline on Tuesday. It reported on allegations of voter disenfranchisement, how unfounded claims of extensive voter fraud entered the political mainstream, rhetoric and realities around mail-in ballots, and how the pandemic could impact turnout.

Despite all the bombast, voting is one of the most essential rights of any democratic citizen. With less than two weeks to go, here’s what you need to know to get out and VOTE.

1. You may still have time to register to vote.

23 states offer registration and voting on election day. If you’re in North Dakota—you don’t even need to register in advance. For some states, you can show up at your local polling place, but may need specific ID or proof of residency, such as a utility bill to register and vote on the spot. For others you must report to your county clerk’s office. This guide from vote.org has specific voter registration deadlines by state. Additionally, every state has a Board of Elections with information for your state.

A Note about Mail-in Voting

Many across the country prefer to vote by mail this year, critical with concerns about COVID. And while some spread misinformation about the opportunity for fraud, cases of fraud with vote my mail is actually low. That said, be sure to follow the directions for your state’s laws and complete your form correctly, to make sure it is counted.  Some states also allow you to track your form once submitted.  Here is a state-by-state guide to vote-by-mail.

2. Know what’s on YOUR ballot.

In addition to the presidential election, there are also many elections for state and federal legislators, referenda, and judges. The League of Women Voters Education Fund founded vote411.org, where you can find your specific ballot by your address and make decisions ahead of time. Ballotpedia also offers this. Go to vote411.org and click on “Find What’s on Your Ballot.” You can check your voter registration status there as well. Ballotpedia also offers a Sample Ballot Lookup Function. Enter your address and find out specifically what will be on your ballot when you arrive at the poll.

Both resources are completely non-partisan. And, on both platforms you can print out your completed sample ballot and bring it into the voting booth with you as a guide when you go to vote.

3. Make a Voting Plan

Voting doesn’t happen by accident, so make a plan. While the window to vote by mail may be closing, there are still other options. Do early voting. Expect that with COVID and rules about social distancing, it’s possible you will have longer lines. Try being the first one there when the poll opens in the morning. Find your state’s early voting hours and locations here.

Be a poll worker.

You know those sweet, wonderful people who always check you in every time you vote? Most are over 60 and are more vulnerable to COVID, which means many are not able to work the poll this year. If you can, be a poll worker. Lack of people to work the polls also is impacting longer lines and fewer polling locations. Find out more about working or volunteering at the polls here.

4. Know Your Rights at the Polls

What are your rights on Election Day? If the polls close while you’re still in line, stay in line – you have the right to vote. If you make a mistake on your ballot, ask for a new one. If the machines are down at your polling place, ask for a paper ballot. (ACLU.org).

It is fully within your right to bring someone with you into the poll booth, as long as it’s not your boss or a union leader. This can help for people with learning differences, language barriers or other disabilities or special needs. Curbside voting and accessible voting machines also are options.

The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition works year-round to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to vote and have that vote count. If you have any questions or concerns, call the  Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) or visit the Election Protection website. ProPublica’s Electionland project, a coalition of newsrooms around the country, also investigates problems that prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots during the 2020 elections.

What is a Provisional Ballot?

A provisional ballot is cast by a voter whose eligibility to vote cannot be proven at the polls on Election Day, due to an administrative error. If, after the election, administrators determine that the voter who cast the provisional ballot was eligible to vote, the ballot will be counted as a regular ballot.

In other words, if you are challenged by a poll worker onsite when you go to vote—your name has been erroneously purged from the roster, your signature is challenged, you requested a mail-in ballot but never sent it in…for whatever reason, request a provisional ballot so that you don’t lose the opportunity to vote. (Note that if you are in the wrong precinct, however, you are better off to go to the right location—some states do not count provisional ballots cast at the wrong polling place.)

Find out more about Provisional Ballots for your state from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

5. Read the News Like a Fact Checker

Accusations of “Alternative facts” and “fake news” are worrying because they are used to sway public opinion about a whole myriad of topics, including science. The digital age has made it easy for anyone to create media. We don’t always know who created something, why they made it, and whether it’s credible. This makes media literacy tricky to learn and teach. Nonetheless, media literacy is an essential skill in the digital age.

Quotes taken out of context, headlines that are old and resolved that are reposted as current, stories that are completely invented, or others that are true but that are called false, all of these can create confusion and sway public opinion. It’s always important to check dates, consider the source, and read a linked article before liking and sharing on social media.

There are many news literacy curricula that are geared to children that would benefit adults as well. Check out the News Literacy Project, The Guardian’s curriculum on analyzing bias in the news, and take Common Sense Media’s “How to Spot Fake News” quiz.

Voting is your right, and it’s the basis of our democracy in the US. Be informed. Make a plan. Ask for help. But don’t wait until the last minute. Voting doesn’t happen by accident.

And, please, wear your mask.