Many of us feel the weight of the upcoming election, and hopefully each of us will go out and exercise our right to vote. Many people, though, may not know where to start or how the voting process works. With a pandemic as yet another obstacle, it’s important to plan now for your vote.
If you’re not yet registered to vote, most states allow you to register online with your social security number and driver’s license. The voter registration card will be mailed to you within 30 days. You must be registered to vote within 30 days of an election, so this would need to be done by October 5.
Each state’s laws are different, but the ways you can get your vote counted are through mail-in voting, early in-person voting, or voting on election day.
Voting by mail (also known as “absentee voting”) is an extra popular option this year amid COVID-19 concerns. In Tennessee, residents can vote by mail if they have an excuse. Some accepted excuses include being a full-time student outside of your county, being the caretaker of an ill person, or having an underlying medical condition. COVID-19 concerns do not fall under acceptable excuses in the state of Tennessee.
To vote by mail, you must submit the request to your local county election commission office. Tennesseans must make that request by October 27 and return the ballot by November 3 at 8pm. The ballots can be returned by mail, or in some cases delivered in-person.
Some people have claimed that voting by mail is unsafe and could lead to fraud, but many senior intelligence officials explain that voting by mail is not new and has never led to extensive voter fraud. There are also many safeguards put in place including identity verification, bar codes to register voters, and tracking of the ballot once it’s mailed in.
If you’re able to vote in-person and want to do so as safely and as soon as possible, early voting is another option. Tennessee’s early voting starts October 14 and ends October 29. You don’t have to do anything additional to vote early except check which polling locations you can early vote at.
Finally, if you prefer to vote on election day November 3, be sure to give yourself ample time. Early morning and midday seem to be the less crowded hours.
For both in-person options, be sure to have an official state or federal ID. This year, it is especially important to wear a mask, stay six-feet apart from others, bring gloves for signing (or bring your own pen), and have hand sanitizer ready.
Dexter Woods, a senior political science major, voted in-person in TN for local elections in July. He claims he felt safe. “When I went in, there were no lines, the machines were cleaned after every use. Everybody had masks on and the people who were cleaning the machines were in full coverage.”
Whichever way you choose to vote this year, it is imperative to check that you truly are registered and to vote on time. To check your registration status and to find out the specific rules and dates for voting in your area, visit the Can I Vote webpage or go directly to your Secretary of State’s website. These sites give you detailed instructions to navigate voting, especially during this pandemic.
No matter how you’re feeling, being informed is the first step in making sure your vote counts.