For many of us, the 2020 General Election, which also happens to be a Presidential Election, is already here. With a global pandemic, anyone who has registered to vote has already been sent their ballots. But for those that haven't registered yet or are wanting to vote in person, you can participate in the election on Tuesday November 3rd this year.
Are you are all prepped and ready to get your vote on? No matter where you are in the voting process, we've created this handy-dandy list of all things you need to think about before November comes. Go though the list and make sure all your ducks are in a row, that way when November 3rd comes along, or even before, you are more than prepared to cast your vote!
Registered to Vote?
Even if your immediate answer to this question is yes, it’s still a good idea to double check, especially if you haven't received your ballot in the mail yet. If you are a California registered voter then you can double check your voter status here.
It’ll ask you for your:
- First and Last Name
- California Driver License or Identification Card Number
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
This will allow you to see if your name is spelled right and if they have your correct address on file.
If you haven't registered to vote yet, please do! You can go here to register. Select the state you live in and they'll let you know what the process is. California's voter registration deadline by mail and online is October 19th, but you can register to vote in person on November 3rd. It's different for each state so make sure you chose the one you plan to vote in.
Find Your Polling Place
Whether you want to actually cast your vote in person on the 3rd or you are looking for the closest place to drop off your ballot, you can click here and enter the address you are registered to vote at. It’ll give you the name of your polling place, the address, and directions from your registration address to the polling place.
All About the Candidates
There are several different ways you can get information on all the candidates running for office this November (besides the President), they are:
- Read through your Voter Pamphlet you received in the mail! If you haven't received it or want to see a PDF version, you click here to read through California's Voters Guide. You also have the option to download and print it out if reading online isn't your thing or you want to make notes!
- You can see the certified list of all the candidates and learn more about them by visiting their websites listed here (note that every candidate gives an address, while some also have an email and website).
- Read through the candidates that paid to have statements written about them. This is the pdf version of your voter's pamphlet, but you if haven't received your ballot yet you can still get a jump start on your reading.
- Lastly, catch up on all the news you've missed on each candidate's goals if they are voted into office!
Want to Avoid the Voting Lines?
You can avoid all the lines (and all the people) when you fill out the ballot you received in the mail and send it back in before November 3rd. But, if you must go in person make sure you follow the signs to help slow the spread of COVID!
The peak voting hours around the United States are in the early morning 7:00am to 8:00am, early afternoon 11:30pm to 1:30pm, and early evening 5:00pm to 7:00pm. These busy times are to be expected as people want to either vote before work, during their lunch break, or right after work. In order to avoid the lines, try going at any time in-between.
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