Go Vote: Your Guide to Participating in the 2020 Election
A 101, from need-to-know terms to endorsements and casting your ballot.
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I had no idea where to find information about my local government in 2018. I felt embarrassed by my own ignorance, especially with the sharply divided political environment and with issues that cut to the core of our society; friends confided similar sentiments to me.
Back to the Ballot was born: a voter education event and non-partisan voter guide we’ve named “Understanding WTF is on the Ballot,” created in collaboration with our expert Laura Herrera. Herrera previously ran for city council in her hometown of Huntington Park, CA, and she currently works for LA County; all of her thoughts for Back to the Ballot are her own.
This year’s Back to the Ballot (which you can stream here), and this year, period, have been unlike any other. The history of America has been forged by citizens exercising their rights to create a more fair and just society for everyone. The 2020 election will be likely the most important and consequential of this generation, and the way each person can make a difference is to vote.
Below, a quick non-partisan guide to exercising your right to vote, and making it count.
YES, YOUR VOTE REALLY DOES MATTER
On the issue of ‘my vote doesn’t matter’ there are races that have been won by extremely small margins, particularly in local elections.
VOTER GUIDES & ENDORSEMENTS
As you prepare to vote here are some suggestions: 1) find guides and use more than one to inform you about the issues and candidates; 2) find endorsements of organizations you trust and do more digging after that. If you are relying on media outlets for recommendations about issues and candidates, do your own research to understand the political opinions of the members of the editorial boards and what, if any, political leanings the outlet traditionally has.
Here is our voter guide (in English and Spanish). We don’t make endorsements; instead we explain roles, and what a vote yes or no means to allow you to make your own informed decision.
A few things to keep in mind while looking through voter guides, and all of the candidates on the ballot:
- Who endorses these candidates?
- Who has donated to their campaign?
- What’s their track record on key voting issues?
LOCAL ELECTIONS MATTER
Local elections do, indeed, matter. Candidates in local elections have literally won by the hundreds. The cost of trash pick-up, the color of the water that comes out of your faucet, the person who could help fix your street these are jobs that we vote people in and out of. The question is not whether you are voting or not, but who do you want to hire and fire with the taxes you pay?
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA:
If you’re in a state that is not California, each state has a Secretary of State who oversees the election there. You can also check out I am a voter. if you need more info on how to vote from your state.
IF YOU LIVE IN CALIFORNIA:
- All registered voters are going to receive their ballot in the mail this election. Starting the first week of October you should’ve received your ballot at the address that you’re registered to vote.
- If you haven’t received it yet, contact the LA County Recorder Registrar, you can request to get your ballot or you can register or re-register before October 19.
- No need to pay postage, all postage is included, you don’t need to add a stamp.
- You can drop off your ballot at the Vote By Mail Drop Boxes (goes directly to the RR/CC). Find a location near you here. Here is another link to help you locate an official drop box.
- If you want to vote in person or if there were any issues with your ballot, there still will be 500-800 vote centers that will be open 10 days before Election Day October 24. You can go and vote in person. On October 29, all vote venters will be open through November 3, Election Day.
- Vote early, whether you’re going to vote early by mail or you decide to vote in person.
WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?
- Make sure you’re registered to vote.
- Lock in your voter game plan: Are you voting by mail? If so, are you going to send it back in the mail or drop it off at a drop box? Are you voting in person? What day can you go ahead of November 3 to vote early?
- Sign up to be a poll worker. (Representation matters! Imagine seeing a diverse group of poll workers welcoming you as you vote, versus what typically is an older demographic without a representation of younger voters, not all of the time but oftentimes this can be the case).
- Phone bank for your favorite candidate.
THIS IS A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT. STAY ACTIVE, EVEN AFTER NOVEMBER 3RD.
Nithya Raman, who is running for Los Angeles City Council, remarked recently, “Find a community and stay engaged.” It’s much easier to become discouraged or remain apathetic if you’re doing this alone.
GLOSSARY OF ELECTION TERMS
“In 2017, the average ballot question required 20 years of U.S formal education to read and comprehend according to the super-helpful-and-you-know-should-bookmark-it-forever Ballotpedia." —Back to the Ballot's 2018 Voter Guide
Here are some definitions from a glossary of voting terms in hopes of breaking down this often confusing jargon, via Ballotpedia.
Absentee voting: “An absentee voter does not cast his or her ballot in person. Typically, absentee voting occurs by mail. All states allow for some form of absentee balloting. Some states require voters to provide a valid excuse to vote absentee while others allow any eligible voter to cast an absentee ballot.”
Ballot measure: “A ballot measure is a piece of proposed legislation to be approved or rejected by eligible voters. Ballot measures are also known as ‘propositions’ or simply ‘questions.’ Ballot measures differ from fewer legislation passed by representative democracies; ordinarily, an elected legislature develops and passes laws. Ballot measures, by contrast, are an example of direct democracy.”
Canvassing: “Canvassing is the process whereby candidates or campaign workers attempt to win votes by contacting voters directly. Canvassing may be conducted in person, by telephone or via email. Another important purpose of canvassing is to determine whether certain policies will prove popular with voters.”
City Council & Mayors: “Simply put, members of the city councils and mayors draft and vote on city laws and appoint certain municipal officers and employees. The services that impact your life on a daily basis (think garbage disposal, street maintenance, local law enforcement and business developments) are voted on by your local city councils.” Source: Back to the Ballot, Understanding WTF is on the Ballot
Delegates: “Delegates ‘are individuals chosen to represent their states at their party conventions prior to a presidential election.’ Delegates formally select the presidential nominees of their respective parties at these conventions.”
District Attorney: “In the United States, a district attorney (DA), state's attorney or state attorney is the chief prosecutor for a local government area, typically a county. The exact name and scope of the office varies by state. Alternative titles for the office include county attorney, commonwealth's attorney, solicitor, or county prosecutor.”
Exit polling: “Exit polling is the polling of voters immediately after they have exited the polling stations. Exit polls are conducted to give an early indication of how an election has turned out.”
Incumbent: “The incumbent is the current holder of an office or position, usually in relation to an election. For example, in an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seeking re-election or not.”
Literacy as a requirement for voting: “This term refers to a government practice of requiring citizens to pass a literacy test as a qualification for voting rights. These tests were frequently used to deny African Americans the right to vote. The use of these tests was suspended by federal law.”
Mail-in ballot election: “A mail-in ballot election is an election conducted entirely by mail-in ballots.”
Proposition: “A proposition is typically a proposed piece of legislation, that a selection of the state population wishes to see enacted. A proposition is also a measure or proposed legislation "proposed" to the members of a legislature or to voters for their approval.”
Same-day registration: “Same-day registration permits voters to both register to vote and cast a ballot on Election Day.”
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES
CALIFORNIA
Election day is Nov. 3
Registration deadlines:
Online: Oct. 19
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 19
In person: Nov. 3
Absentee ballot deadlines
Request: Oct. 27
Return by mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3
Return in person: Nov. 3 by 8:00 p.m.
Early voting
Oct. 5 - Nov. 2, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
Additional information
You can also register and vote on Election Day with same-day registration.
Conditional voter registration is a safety net for Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or update their voter registration information. Voters can use the conditional voter registration process from the day after the deadline all the way through Election Day. Eligible citizens can go to their county election office, polling place, or vote center to register and vote conditionally. These ballots will be processed once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.
FLORIDA
Election day is Nov. 3
Registration deadlines
Online: Oct. 6 by 7:00 p.m.
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 6
In person: Oct. 6 by 7:00 p.m.
Absentee ballot deadlines
Request: Received by Oct. 24
Return by mail: Received by Nov. 3 by 7:00 p.m.
Return in person: Nov. 3 by 7:00 p.m.
Early voting
Oct. 19 - Nov. 1, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live
GEORGIA
Election day is Nov. 3
Registration deadlines
Online: Oct. 5
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 5
In person: Oct. 5
Absentee ballot deadlines
Request: Received by Oct. 30
Return by mail: Received by Nov. 3 by 7:00 p.m.
Return in person: Nov. 3 by 7:00 p.m.
Early voting
Oct. 12 - Oct. 30, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live
OHIO
Election day is Nov. 3
Registration deadlines
Online: Oct. 5
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 5
In person: Oct. 5
Absentee ballot deadlines
Request: Received by Oct. 31
Return by mail: Postmarked by Nov. 2
Return in person: Nov. 3 by 7:30 p.m.
Early voting
Oct. 6 - Nov. 2, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live
NEW JERSEY
Election day is Nov. 3
Registration deadlines
Online: Oct. 13
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 13
In person: Oct. 13
Absentee ballot deadlines
Request: Oct. 23
Return by mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3
Return in person: Nov. 3 by close of polls
Early voting
Sep. 19 - Nov. 2, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live
NEW YORK
Election day is Nov. 3
Registration deadlines
Online: Oct. 9
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 9
In person: Oct. 9
Absentee ballot deadlines
Request: Received by Oct. 27
Return by mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3
Return in person: Nov. 3 by 9:00 p.m.
Early voting
Oct. 24 - Nov. 1, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live
Writer: Sarah Kim
Sarah Kim is a writer, editor, and connector. As the founder of By Way of Us, a print magazine turned educational event series for entrepreneurial women, she is deeply invested in putting together events that create opportunities for asking questions and working with experts to help answer them.