How to Vote in the U.S. Presidential Election

Voting in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election is more complicated than in the past, due to the global pandemic. Below are the steps you can take to ensure you are registered to vote, know your options on how you can cast your vote, and are aware of resources available for you to refer to for any other information regarding Election Day on November 3, 2020.

Check if You're Registered to Vote

Even if you think you're registered to vote, it's a good idea to double check, which you can do in less than a minute at Vote.org: https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/ If you know you need to register (or you find out you are not in fact registered in your state) you can follow this link to usa.gov, click the state you're in from the dropdown menu, and follow the directions to register – it only takes a few minutes: https://www.usa.gov/election-office

Voter Deadlines

Make sure to also check the deadline for your state on registration, absentee ballot requests and submissions, and if early voting is available, at the US Vote Foundation: https://www.usvotefoundation.org/vote/state-elections/state-election-dates-deadlines.htm You can also click on your state in this handy map from Vote411 to find deadlines and other needed information: https://www.vote411.org/

Mail-in or Absentee Voting

Mail-in and absentee voting varies per state, so it's best to check what your state office details for absentee and mail-in voting are. Information can be found at: https://www.usa.gov/absentee-voting If you're oversees or in the military it is recommended you request an absentee ballot from Overseas Vote Foundation: https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/vote/VoterInformation.htm

In-Person Voting

For those who will be voting in-person on November 3, you can find out your exact polling place here by clicking on your state and then typing in your address: https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/

What to Expect on Election Day

Incase your polling place changes on election day, if there are delays or long lines, you can head over to usa.gov for up to date information: https://www.usa.gov/election-day For safety measures relating to Covid-19, Vote.org has a chart of every state and their safety guidelines to help with any concerns: https://www.vote.org/covid-19/

What to Do if Your Ballot Is Incorrect

Incase your mail-in ballot has the wrong information on it, head over to vote.org for help through your secretary of state's website: https://www.vote.org/absentee-voting-rules/ Along with that, Vote.org put together a resource to know your rights as a voter in the United States. Check the information in the link to know how you are protected: https://www.vote.org/election-protection/ For more information on the 2020 presidential election check out our article on how to watch the 2020 presidential debates, even if you don't have cable T.V. anymore. [poilib element="accentDivider"]