The word democracy comes from the Ancient Greek words for “rule” and “the common people” (the demos). Although it’s a word that’s been much used and abused since then, at its core democracy is about rule by the people: the people of the world working together to foster systems of government that protect human rights, civil liberties, and equality.
Tuesday, September 15th is the International Day of Democracy, founded in 2007 by the UN General Assembly to uphold democratic principles and raise public awareness about democracy. For most of us in the United States (in a major election year), one of the most familiar ways to participate in democracy is to vote.
Here’s our quick and easy guide on making sure you’re registered to vote in November!
Checking Your Registration
It’s very important to check your registration before your state’s specific registration deadline! Although this varies from state to state, in many states the deadline to register for the general election is October 5, 2020, so this is definitely a “sooner rather than later” task.
Start by checking your voter registration status at a nonpartisan website like Can I Vote? designed by state election officials. This website will connect you to the appropriate webpage for your state so you can check your registration. You can also input your name and address through legitimate third-party sites like Rock the Vote for a quick and easy way to check.
Making Updates
If you have to update your voter information for any reason — say you’re still registered at an old address, or you’ve recently changed your name — submit these changes to your state as soon as you can. Consult the instructions at USA.gov for updating your registration online, by mail, or by phone.
Important Deadlines
Your key election deadlines will vary based on state. For the November general election, the four you’ll want to keep an eye on are:
- Voter Registration Deadline
- Absentee Ballot Request Deadline (*can differ for mail and in-person)
- Absentee Ballot Return Deadline
- Early Voting Available
You can find a list of links to state election offices here, which should have the most up-to-date information on the deadlines for your state.
Voting By Mail
Due to COVID-19, you may be one of the millions of U.S. voters hoping to avoid the in-person polls and vote by mail this year. Each state’s election rules will be different for voting by mail, and many have amended their rules for 2020 to work around the pandemic.
Visit this website for the government’s coronavirus-specific advice on how to request an absentee ballot for the November election and how to find your state’s specific rules for doing so. Remember, you cannot vote online for federal elections.
Note: because of issues with USPS delivery times, we advise requesting and submitting your absentee/vote-by-mail ballots as early as possible.
Other Ways to Help
Only about half of all adult U.S. citizens participate in the average election, which is tied to issues such as voter registration purges, lack of access to transportation, elections being held on a work day, and the discouraging fact that millions of citizens living in places like Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico are not fully represented in the federal government.
If you’re wondering what else you can do other than heading to the poll box to support democracy in the U.S. this election season, here are some suggestions:
- Volunteer as a poll worker on election day
- Work with local organizations to mail out reminders and encouragement to voters
- Offer to drive friends/family to the polls or contribute to local transport funds
- Tell state politicians to support expanded early voting, online registration, and same-day registration, especially during COVID
- Lobby for the repeal of voter suppression laws, such as laws that disenfranchise convicted felons
Make your voice heard and help get out the vote!