Every Vote Matters: A Guide To Voting In The 2020 General Election
Election Day is less than one week away (November 3, 2020), and this year, like all years, I encourage you to fulfill your civic duty and vote. Voting is a right and a privilege–one that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Passionate About Voting
Exercising my right to vote has been something I’ve been adamantly passionate about since before turning 18 in the early 2000s. I’ve always been interested in politics and issues that affect me and the people I care about. And I’m proud to say I haven’t missed a primary or general election since gaining the right to vote.
Election Day often feels like a holiday, one I get to celebrate and honor with my fellow Americans. It’s fun to show up at my polling place on Election Day, casting my ballot for candidates and issues I believe in, and often seeing my neighbors and friends during the process. My polling place for the past 8 years has been a local library branch in the Toledo area, and I’ve developed little Election Day rituals like supporting the bake sale that takes place outside the voting center, greeting the familiar poll workers with a friendly, “Happy Election Day!”, and of course, receiving and proudly wearing my “I Voted” sticker.
Voting Early In Person
Voting this year in the 2020 Presidential Election looks a little different. With Coronavirus concerns, more people are opting to vote early or by mail to avoid large crowds. 2020 has been the first year that I’ve opted to vote early (in person), and while it doesn’t have quite the same effect as voting ON Election Day, there was still a bit of excitement in the air at the Lucas County Early Voting Center.
Volunteers and people on both sides of aisle were passing out literature and swag for their candidates. Instead of a bake sale, there was a food truck (with free food if you showed them your “I Voted” sticker)! And the lines were reasonable and socially-distant with masks required, line markings for every six foot standing space, and hand sanitizer to use before and after voting.
If you’re considering voting early in person, be sure to check where your local Early Voting Center is located and the allotted hours. In Lucas County, the Early Voting Center is located at 1301 Monroe Street in downtown Toledo. Click here for more information regarding early voting times. Don’t forget to bring a valid ID (State ID or driver’s liscense) or a utility bill with your name and address.
Voting By Mail
I have no doubts that the remaining days of this election will follow the same safety guidelines and procedures so you can vote safely and confidently in person if you want to. However, if voting by mail is your preferred method this year, be sure you know your state’s mail-in ballot requirements. Deadlines to request and postmark your mail-in ballot vary by state. In Ohio, the last date to request a ballot is October 31, and it must be postmarked by November 2 and received by the Board of Elections by November 13.
As mentioned before, voting is a privilege and a right. There’s no reason we should allow a health pandemic to get in the way of each and every single one of us safely exercising our civic duty. Vote early. Vote in person or by mail. Vote on Election Day. Just vote.
