A Quick Guide to Voting in the 2020 Election

Zoe Stanton-Savitz ’23

Graphic created by Yuan Oliver Jin ’22

On Tuesday, November 3, Sarah Lawrence students will join millions of Americans in exercising their right to vote, flooding polling places throughout the country in the hopes of using their voice to instigate change.

Many activists and political leaders advocate for voting as a democratic right, a civic duty and a crucial way for young voters, like you, to create pathways for positive change.

On campus, student activists encourage their peers to register to vote and to submit ballots. One such activist is senior, Janey Amend-Bombara, leader of Sarah Lawrence College’s chapter of Peace Action. She urges students to get involved. 

“Voting directly impacts the decisions made not only about your future but the future of all humanity,” Amend-Bombara said. “People often forget the smaller state and municipal elections, but those have the biggest impact on real world policy.”

Amend-Bombara also advises students to go further than simply casting their ballots. 

“It is important to not only cast a ballot but to continue the work outside the polling place,” she said. “The necessary changes in our government and society will not just come from voting in new faces, it also comes from taking direct actions like protests, donations and advocacy work.”

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With the following Voter Guide, The Phoenix offers tips and tricks to help answer your questions and ensure your vote counts, wherever you are. 

REGISTERING TO VOTE

Ensure you are registered and eligible to vote several weeks before election day and update registration if address, name or political affiliation has changed. If unsure how to register, visit either Vote.gov to view various state guidelines, or use TurboVote to register directly online. 

If registering by mail... download the National Mail Voter Registration Form here or find the form at libraries, public schools and city and county clerks’ offices. 

If registering in person… apply at state or local voter registration or election offices, the department of motor vehicles, public assistance agencies, armed services recruitment centers, state-funded programs that serve people with disabilities or any public facility that a state has designated as a voter registration agency. 

If you are conflicted about whether to register in New York or your home state, think about which will make a bigger difference. If from a smaller state or a swing state (Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin) register there. If not, think about where it will be easier to cast the ballot. 

FIRST-TIME VOTERS

Many Sarah Lawrence first-years are first-time voters. Congratulations! If you registered by mail and vote in person, first-time voters may have to show proof of identity and residency, including a valid photo ID and an official piece of mail addressed to you, like a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, ect.

Think it’s too late to register? In most states, it’s not. You can even register at the polling place. Look up regulations for your precinct, meaning the city or town where you live.

EARLY VOTING AND ABSENTEE VOTING

If you can’t vote in person on election day, it is necessary to request an absentee ballot. Every state differs in regulations regarding mail-in ballots. While some states only allow absentee ballots if voters are unable to vote at polling places –– like students living on campus but registered in their home states –– other states allow “no-excuse” absentee voting, meaning any eligible voter is entitled to an absentee ballot. To request an absentee ballot visit Vote.org.

When voting by absentee ballot, read instructions carefully and triple-check that you have signed the envelope where required. Send the ballot, with postage, as soon as you can: in most cases, they must be received by 8 p.m. on election day to count.

You may also be able to vote early –– call your City Clerk to find out how. Some states allow voters to cast a ballot before election day at a designated polling place or a ballot drop site. While early voting deadlines vary among states, most begin a month to a week before the election. A comprehensive list of deadlines can be found here. 

POLLING PLACES

While many states are relying on absentee ballots due to the pandemic, some polling places are open. Voters are assigned polling places based on the home address on voter registration records, while some rely on ballot drop sites instead. 

PROVISIONAL VOTING

If eligibility to vote is in question — for example, your name does not appear on the official list at polling place, eligibility is challenged in accordance with state law, identification was not provided, etc. — you may be offered a provisional ballot at the polling place. The provisional ballot will be counted if the state or local election official later determines that you are eligible and registered under state law. 

COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID

Be aware of deadlines for differing states and mail ballots with plenty of time beforehand. Again, make sure to sign the ballot in the correct place and that ballots are filled out in blue or black ink. Ensure the correct envelope and postage is used, including the interior privacy shield, and make sure that the envelopes are properly sealed. If attending a physical polling place or collection box, verify the correct location that corresponds with the place of residency. Review the ballot before submitting to avoid any mistakes and support friends and family members as they vote, as well.

OTHER TIPS

Other voting resources include the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, comprehensive information on the Federal election process; the U.S. Department of Justice, explains voting rights laws and is a resource to report problems related to ballot access including voter discrimination; or Ballotpedia for details pertaining to specific state regulations. 

Check out activists in your area who are working against voter suppression. If you’re concerned your right to vote is in jeopardy of being purposefully denied, contact your local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union or an organization such as Fair Fight. 

Your best bet for up-to-date information on what’s going on with ballots and how to ensure that your vote counts will come from local community members.

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It is essential to stay educated about candidates and issues, both federal and local.

Amend-Bombara suggests exploring the Peace Voter Campaign which grades candidates on their advocacy for peace. She also reminds students to stay informed and politically active following the election.

“The work doesn’t end on November 3rd!” she said.