Some states have also extended voting to weekends—which is all good news for keeping crowds in check. He went as far as barring them from his Christmas Day remarks to U.S. troops, which is the type of event the White House typically opens for news coverage. If the worst happens and you’re hospitalized or have another medical crisis on Election Day, at least 38 states allow emergency absentee voting. Even if you end up voting, speak up about what happened. Swing Vote: The undecided, usually independent, portion of the electorate that can "swing" the outcome of an election one way or the other. The Senate is not scheduled to be in session until Jan. 19, which could be McConnell’s last day as Senate leader. By … — Sanya Mansoor, Read More: Voting By Mail? In Arkansas, for example, if you plan to return someone else’s ballot, you must deliver it directly to a county clerk, sign an oath and show appropriate identification, per the NCSL. Read More: What You Need to Know About Election Day’s Most Likely Scenarios. Medical experts say that’s a hard-and-fast rule, and it applies on Election Day too. What if something goes awry at my polling place? If you vote in person, ballot scanners will often notify you if you make a mistake. (Just don’t use sanitizer directly on a voting machine, as some electronic equipment can be damaged by disinfectants.). If that doesn't work, try texting "HELP" to the shortcode to see options. “We’re kind of already in that mood of always having to prepare for stuff,” said Chris Anderson, the Republican supervisor of elections in Seminole County, Florida. Despite the flurry of recent misinformation about mail-in voting—much of it coming from the President’s Twitter feed—election officials have repeatedly stressed that both delivery methods are safe and reliable. He went as far as barring them from his Christmas Day remarks to U.S. troops, which is the type of event the White House typically opens for news coverage. The chance that Election Night passes without a clear winner is higher than normal this year. The CDC also recommends not bringing children or other nonvoters, although it can be tricky to find babysitters or other caretakers, so plan ahead. ... usually become permanent by eventually replacing a major party. Patience may be paramount. It’s an easy way to decrease your risk of exposure to COVID-19 while still voting in person. the organization and day-to-day operation of Congress. Keep in mind that voter suppression can take many forms—physical threats, intimidating phone calls and misinformation designed to keep you from casting your ballot. Since losing the election and beginning a campaign to overturn the outcome, the usually chatty Trump has avoided engaging with reporters, even those who accompanied him to Florida. What health precautions should I take to vote in-person? Crucial to understanding federalism in modern day America is the concept of mobility, or 'the ability to vote with your feet.' Bring your own pen, tissues and hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol—and douse your hands before and after touching any voting equipment or shared surfaces, like clipboards or doorknobs. The Justice Department said that at least 4,900 unique telephone numbers texted a candidate's name to the number posted online by Mackey and his co-conspirators on or around Election Day. When it’s time to vote, choose a mask that has multiple layers and fits comfortably over your nose and mouth so that you’re not tempted to touch your face to adjust it. That means that in the days before you plan to cast a vote, you should be extra vigilant in practicing good hand hygiene, wearing a mask that covers your mouth and nose when you’re in public, staying 6 ft. away from people not in your household and refraining from attending large social gatherings. Some states, such as Minnesota and Georgia, will deliver ballots to people in the hospital. — Lissandra Villa, If you live in Mississippi or Wyoming, you can’t know, unfortunately. Early voting also acts as an insurance policy. Please attempt to sign up again. A lot of people are run down by this point and may rush to get … The answer to this question: T U E S. Go … If you have additional questions or run into problems, call or text 866-OUR-VOTE. Let's spend it on our NHS instead." Some jurisdictions are offering curbside voting this year, which can reduce contact with others. Should I vote early, or on election day? These literacy tests were usually composed of about 30 questions and had to be taken in 10 minutes. Medical experts say the level of risk depends on your personal health, the amount of COVID-19 transmission in your community, and your ability—and willingness—to follow safety precautions at the polls. Still, if you start feeling symptoms afterward, isolate and get tested. The time between Election Day in November and Inauguration Day in January is usually pretty sleepy. Rick Perry The way some of this year’s pandemic-era primaries unfolded isn’t exactly reassuring: in five states, election officials took more than nine days to call the winners; two congressional primaries in New York took six weeks. — Abigail Abrams, Your registration becomes inactive if you haven’t voted in two consecutive federal elections and haven’t replied to requests verifying your address. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more, © 2021 TIME USA, LLC. Election Day, once so far off it seemed abstract, is finally happening on Tuesday, and those who remember the seemingly interminable lines … * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. — Sanya Mansoor. The mask should stay on while you’re waiting to vote and the entire time you’re inside your polling place. Early voting offers some clear benefits because polling places are often less crowded than they are on Election Day. Check out the precautions your polling station has added so you know what to expect. In Alabama, voters must mail or return their own ballots, with only very narrow exceptions for medical emergencies. It depends on your state. Ballot design has consequences. For the special election, the ballot splits the list of candidates into two columns, which may visually suggest that voters select a candidate in each column. A "Vote Leave" poster in Omagh saying "We send the EU £50 million every day. If I opted to get a mail ballot, can I vote in-person instead? In many cases, ballots are designed so poorly that they result in people’s votes not being counted: voters skip sections or vote for someone they didn’t intend. A fun crossword game with each day connected to a different theme. William McKinley. But if you’ve decided to forgo absentee or voting by mail—or if those are not options for you in your state—here are some factors to consider. And of course, the golden rule of COVID-19: try to maintain 6 ft. of distance from other people at all times. Officials estimate that 70 percent to 80 percent of votes will be reported on election night, depending on how many voters wait to return their ballot or decide to vote in person on Election Day … Before 2020, only academics and the most fanatical political junkies could tell you the name of Georgia’s secretary of state, or the Electoral College meeting date, or that a joint session of Congress convenes to certify each state’s electoral vote count on January 6. Your polling place is where you go to vote on Election Day. — Alana Abramson. —Lissandra Villa and W.J. But for low-risk people who want to vote in person, experts say it can be done safely. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. But election experts caution against letting those reports scare you away. If you’re on the fence, waiting until the last moment gives you time to make up your mind. If you’re in a rush to have your ballot reach election officials, choose an official drop box. Read More: Have a Problem With Your Mail-In Ballot? This is your last free article. On Dec. 14, the 538 electors convene in their states to cast their ballots. — Abby Vesoulis. If you’re mailing it, election officials recommend that you give yourself a buffer of a week for your ballot to arrive. If they do that, their vote won’t count. If you take the time to understand potential voters and get your message out, you can get the votes you need to win. COVID-19 is impacting everyone’s health, job and support system differently. Some states have stricter rules. First, the good news. What if I get sick on Nov. 3? Just a few thousand mistakes could swing a tight race. The off-peak hours are generally very early in the morning—some polling places open at 6 a.m.—late morning and mid-afternoon. casting ballots by mail for the first time. If you find yourself in this situation, contact your local elections office; they’ll do everything they can to help you vote. If public reaction is favorable, the politician takes credit for it; if not, the idea dies quickly. As confirmed COVID-19 cases spike around the country, tens of millions of voters are opting to cast ballots by mail—which can take longer to tally. But mailing a ballot is also very convenient and accessible, especially for folks who can’t easily hop in a car. The Senate schedule. If that doesn't work, either, check the sweepstakes rules or the advertisement that listed the shortcode for information about how to … By signing up you are agreeing to our, The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election, Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean Life—But We Can Fix It. With so much attention voting by mail this year, you might be wondering whether it’s even safe to vote in person. But if you live in any other state or the District of Columbia, you have access to a ballot tracker, according to data from the National Vote at Home Institute. Second, the smaller sizes are less in demand, so you will have a better chance of finding things on the rack or in the bins. To persuade people to vote for you, they must know who you are, have confidence in your platform, and believe that you're the best person for the job. Opening day of a new Congress is usually filled with pomp and celebration, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, things were much more subdued in the Capitol. If you fill out a mail ballot, you won’t know immediately if you accidentally invalidated your vote. Should I use a dropbox instead of mailing my ballot? Numbers and email addresses are usually easy to find online. If a candidate’s claim of victory does not match up with what state election officials or nonpartisan outlets like the Associated Press are reporting, sit back and wait. You can also direct message or chat with a volunteer online. You can also practice filling out a sample ballot to shorten the time you spend inside. Voting on Election Day is hardly off the table. Many states have “closed” primaries. Others ask voters to provide evidence of their identity and sometimes require them to come in person to a local elections office. Check your state’s specific deadlines for mail-in ballots and the day they must be postmarked and received. Failing to meet that deadline risks Congress getting involved in disputes over the state’s chosen Electoral College members. Long lines at the voting booth are a scourge on democracy.In every election, new stories emerge of college students waiting until 4 a.m., voters in majority-black precincts standing in the rain for hours, and people missing work, fainting or just leaving without voting at all.After reports of extremely long lines in 2012, President Obama vowed to solve this problem and … Postal Service usually takes more time, Have a Problem With Your Mail-In Ballot? Become a master crossword solver while having tons of fun, and all for free! “We should really focus on trying to drive down transmission in our communities ahead of time so that people can vote safely,” says Dr. Sexton of Emory. Many states have laws designed to prevent mass ballot collection, known pejoratively as “ballot harvesting,” which is when one person collects and returns multiple ballots. Even if you forget to bring your unused ballot, some states, including California and Illinois, will still allow you to cast a provisional vote. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. If it has, you can call your local elections office directly to see if you can either fix it or throw out that ballot and cast a new one. If you’re worried about falling ill on Nov. 3, or if your job makes it hard to avoid coronavirus exposure, consider casting a vote early or requesting an absentee or mail ballot. When designing ballots, election boards are often required to follow state-mandated rules on everything from the font to what languages are included. Day to vote, usually, for short. The electors are usually state-elected officials, party leaders, or people with a strong affiliation with the Presidential candidates.
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