During her speech at the virtual Democratic Convention last night, former first lady Michelle Obama vehemently urged Americans to “vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it.” Obama is leading an effort to help people register to vote in the upcoming election — she even wore a gold chain necklace that said “VOTE” to hammer the point home.
“Let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country,” she said, adding that “he cannot meet this moment.” In her address, she argued that Trump has had enough time to prove that he can “do the job,” yet in four years he has only delivered “chaos, division and a total and utter lack of empathy.”
On November 3, Americans have the opportunity to vote Trump out of office and she’s urging them to exercise that right. Watch part of her speech below.
But while Obama is urging people to vote, Trump is making it harder than ever by intentionally sabotaging mail-in voting. He has issued an order to remove postal sorting machines and is opposing sorely needed funding. That funding is needed in order to meet deadlines for delivering voting ballots, particularly given the excess demand for the service in light of the ongoing pandemic.
The president believes that mail-in voting is a threat to democracy and will benefit the Democrats. He says it “will lead to the most corrupt election in our nation’s history” and, despite a lack of evidence, claims that mail-in voting is rife with fraud. He told the Fox News Network “they want $3.5 billion for something that will turn out to be fraudulent, that’s election money basically.”
However, despite Trump’s seemingly strategic undermining of the USPS and its capacity to deliver votes quickly and safely this election, there are still ways you can vote by mail. But by acting early and staying informed about the rules in your state you can avoid delays.
Below we’ve included some helpful links to make sure your vote gets counted correctly.
State Specific Options
Each state has different rules, so it’s best to visit your respective election office website for state-wide voting guidance. Alternatively, you can locate your state via the election office database, here.
A new guide from @NBCNews also helps you understand the deadlines to vote and eligibility to vote by mail based on the rules of your state. Check out their infographic below.
Vote Early
Some states are making it easier for citizens to vote absentee by mail this year due to the coronavirus. This early voting chart lists time frames for states that offer early voting.
Local Drop Off Points
In some states, you may cast an absentee ballot in person before Election Day. To do this, you must request an absentee ballot from your state. Your state may require you to submit a valid excuse too.
If you’re concerned that the USPS won’t be able to deliver a “mail-in” because of the current postal crisis, there is an alternative. Instead of mailing your absentee vote, google your local supervisor of elections to find out where you can drop it off locally. This way, you don’t have to rely on the USPS or wait in long lines on election day and increase your risk of infection.
Importantly, make sure you if you do send it via mail, you track it like a regular package.
Make an Informed Decision
If you do vote, make sure you’re voting based on accurate information. The upcoming election is between Republican President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, candidates with drastically different views of the world and vastly different approaches to tackling some of the biggest issues facing the country. Find out how they compare on key issues like the environment, policing, healthcare, and the economy in this Pew report.