Voting in 2020
Overcoming Obstacles and Making It Count
BY CHRISTINE R.
COVID-19 and other factors
seem to be making it extra hard
for overseas voters to take part
in the 2020 US elections. But
we will overcome them all to
exercise our right to vote, 100
years after American women
first started to vote nationwide.
Spread the word about “Election
Day Month(s)” and “Election
Night”–the final results.
We should recognize–and share
the recognition with others–
that the US doesn‘t have a real
“Election Day.” With absentee
and early voting, “Election
Month(s)” is a more accurate
name. People start voting as
soon as ballots start going out or
early voting begins. As overseas
voters know, voting by mail
is safe, secure, and legitimate.
It‘s also nothing new–it started
before the Civil War.
Voters also need to understand
that there will be no “Election
Night”–there will be “the time
it takes to count a much higher
volume of mail-in ballots than
usual.” The totals available
by midnight on November
3 will be far from final–this
also happened with “Election
Night” in 2018, for example.
Though the media make a big
noise about “Election Night,”
and voters want to see quick
results, election results are not
final until all the votes have
been counted and the election is
certified.
This has always been the case.
Votes used to be counted much
more slowly than we are used to.
That’s one of the reasons why
new representatives, senators,
and presidents take office
so long after “Election Day.”
Inauguration Day used to be
in March, not January, around
four months after the elections
were held. More recently, as
most people will remember, the
outcome of the US presidential
election of 2000 took more
than 30 days after “Election
Day” to be determined.
Need the details on making
these five steps? To visit the
website: click here.
TAKE THESE FIVE STEPS TO ENSURE YOU CAST A VALID VOTE!
1. Learn the deadlines and requirements for your state
2. When you register to vote, ask for email/online ballot delivery
3. Vote your ballot immediately
4. Return your ballot immediately
5. Track your ballot to ensure local election officials receive it
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