According to United States Election Project, less than 59% of eligible Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election – so, what happened?
Forget to register?
Don’t remember where to go?
Think it’s too much trouble?
Not sure your vote is going to matter?
It’s been a busy year – no doubt – so this year’s election has truly snuck up on us. Deadlines and potential safety considerations loom as we approach November, but you’re not too late. There’s still time to do some research on your local and national political candidates, register and plan your vote – whether in-person or at the polls.
21c would like to share some resources with you to help get you ready to vote in 2020.
Do some research
Don’t just get all of your information from those “I approve this message” ads. There are plenty of websites out there that gather details, stances, history, background, etc. on nearly all local and national election candidates. All elected positions are important, so learn more about the candidates you’ll see on the ballot on sites like this one.
Register
Maybe you’ve done it, maybe you can’t remember or perhaps your address has changed. It’s always good to check and make sure. Use this site to check whether you’re currently registered and that your information is up-to-date. If not, it’s O.K. – you probably still have time to do so and it only takes a few minutes.
Plan your vote
This year, you may be hoping to vote from home to avoid crowds or long lines at the polls. That’s perfectly reasonable and you may be eligible for a mail-in ballot in your state. Review this site to check your mail-in eligibility and take note of your deadline, as it is fast-approaching. With USPS experiencing some delays and extra volume, plan to request/send in your ballot as soon as possible.
If you’re ready to strap on your mask and head to your local polling place – use this site to verify your polling place address and plan accordingly. Expect a potential line with social distancing and sanitization standards in action. Be patient – remind yourself – it’s worth it.
Your voice always matters
You’ve heard all of the cliches – “every vote counts,“ exercise your right,” “rock the vote,” “voting is your civic duty” and so on. All motives removed, the underlying sentiments are true – your voice does matter and your voice does make a difference. Not all people around the world have a voice in choosing their leaders and their lawmakers – but you do – if you register and if you speak up.
