The time to create your voting plan is NOW.
Hello, friend.
I don’t know about you, but 2020 has been a wild ride so far, and it seems like it can’t get any crazier. You might be feeling overwhelmed and a little hopeless when it comes to the rest of this year—I know I have—but consider this post a reminder that one of the biggest events of 2020 hasn’t happened yet.
And here’s the good news. You can still have a say in the outcome.
I hope you’ve heard it a thousand times already, but in case you haven’t, the time to create a plan to cast your vote in November needs to happen right now. Not next week and definitely not next month because by then, it’ll be too late. We are officially two months away from Election Day. It’s time.
If you are eligible, here are the steps you need to take ASAP to make sure your vote is counted this fall. Thankfully, they are pretty simple, and you can access everything you’ll need to complete these steps from one place: vote.org.
Make sure you are registered.
This will take you literally 30 seconds. Seriously, time it.
Go to this website, look up your state and follow the instructions. If you’re registered, great! If not, request a registration form. BAM. Done.
If your state allows absentee ballots this year, request yours TODAY.
I voted absentee all through college, and I never had any issues. It’s safe, easy and effective. Visit this link to get started.
But here’s the thing, if you’re going to vote absentee, you HAVE to apply right now. The longer you sit on this, the longer it will take for your ballot to get to you and then back to your election commission to be counted. Don’t make this harder than it has to be!
If your state doesn’t allow you to vote absentee, think through what you’ll need on Election Day.
Unfortunately, the TN Supreme Court ruled that I can’t list COVID-19 as a reason to vote absentee, so I’m already thinking through a bigger voting plan.
I’ll want to make sure I have all the PPE equipment I need to feel safe, and I’m making a note to double check early voting locations when they become available. I can do that from my local election commission’s website, or go here to find your poll locations.
Research.
Choosing a presidential candidate to vote for this year is a very easy decision for me, and I’d imagine it’s pretty intuitive for you too, but remember that we’re not just voting for that office in November.
This is also a not-so-gentle reminder that writing in Kanye isn’t helping anyone. Seriously, do your research.
Look up everyone on your state and local ballot ahead of showing up at the poll. These elections are arguably even more important than the presidential one because these are the people who are thinking about you as they make decisions. If you’ve read what you can and are still unsure, try filling out ISideWith.com. It’ll help you choose an ideal candidate based on the policies that are important to you.
Vote early if you can.
For those voting in person, I highly recommend taking advantage of early voting. There are so many benefits to this, especially during COVID-19: choosing your location, multiple days to vote, fewer crowds, shorter lines, less likely to contract the virus, and more. Also, when I say early, I mean early. Have it be the first thing you do that day to ensure nothing else gets in the way.
Look up your local election commission’s website to find your early voting locations—don’t assume the one you usually vote at is participating this year.
Check the status of your ballot, especially if you voted by mail.
Did you know you could do that? Check your local election commission’s website for that info.
Tell your friends to vote too.
This is the best part!
This is the part where you get to wear your “I Voted” sticker with pride. Show it off to everyone you know, and tell them to vote too if they haven’t already. Share what this experience meant to you with your social circle and on social media because making history is a group effort.
I actually have a rule with my friends. If they’re able to vote and choose not to, they don’t get to complain to me about anything for the next four years. Literally anything! I figure if you didn’t use your voice when you had the chance, you don’t get a say in the outcome.
BONUS: Become a volunteer.
If you’re feeling extra empowered—and I hope you do!—you can also help others vote. Volunteer for your candidate, or register to work at a poll on Election Day. I’ve signed up to be a poll official in my county, which on top of sounding cool, is something that’s really important to me, since those who typically work the polls are the most vulnerable to COVID-19. It’s also important to stay informed, but more on that in a future post.
If you take anything away from this post, I hope you feel ready to vote this fall. It’s not nearly as difficult of a process for many of us as people make it out to be, but it’s so important. Now, I want to know where you are in the voting process. Are you registered? Have you requested your mail-in ballot? Let me know!
Until next time!
Millie
