The Importance of Having a Voting Plan for the 2020 Election

By Lisa WeitzmanOctober 15, 2020

The election of 2020 is quickly approaching. For some, the end of the campaign season comes as a relief, as it means the end of political ads and often divisive conversations. For others, the idea of voting during a pandemic feels scary, and conflicting information around the integrity of voting options is confusing and overwhelming. And yet, voting is a constitutional right. What can you do now to ensure that your voice is counted? The answer is simple: create a voting plan.

The goal of a voting plan is to ensure that you think now about how you will vote, figure out what you will need to make it happen and work through in advance any possible barriers so that your voting experience is as easy as possible. Even if you have voted many times in the past, the process this year may look very different. Early voting and mail-in voting options may have expanded in your state, and COVID-19 has, once again, impacted usual procedures. Because of this, you will need to think through in advance the logistics of how you will cast your ballot. This year, it may actually be easier to think of it as a “voting season” rather than a single “Election Day” (“How to Create a Voting Plan,” National Low Income Housing Coalition, 9.14.20). While it is critically important to confirm the exact details for your state, here are equally critical steps to follow regardless of where you live:

Confirm Your Voter Registration

Perhaps you have just registered for the first time, or maybe you have voted in many elections. In either case, it is important that you confirm your voter registration. You may do so easily by visiting vote.org or by going onto your state’s election office website. If you are not yet registered, this site will also let you know your state’s deadline to do so.

Decide How You Will Vote

This year, there are multiple options to consider. Will you vote in person? Will you complete an absentee ballot? Will you return the ballot by mail, or will you drop it off at an authorized location? As with voter registration, each state has its own procedures and guidelines. You can visit Our Homes, Our Votes to check for your state’s logistics, including polling locations, sample ballots, local issues to review and consider in advance, and early voting locations and schedules. Regardless of where you live, there are certain things you will need to include in your plan.

If you are voting in person:

  • Confirm your voting location and hours of operation: Because of COVID-19, many traditional polling sites have closed or moved. Visit Our Homes, Our Votes or The Voting Information Project to verify where you need to go.
  • Determine when you personally will vote: If you are concerned about crowds, it is best to vote mid-morning or early afternoon, when the polls tend to be quieter.
  • Pull together the documents you will need: Each state has its own requirements for what documents can be used for identification. Make sure you know what they are so that you take them with you.
  • Figure out how you will get to the polls: Will you need a ride? Who will take you?
  • Review safety procedures: In order to protect your health and that of your fellow voters and poll workers, please review the safety procedures in your state. That information may be found at Healthy Voting.
  • Determine options for early in-person voting: This option, if available in your state, may allow you to vote in-person but with smaller crowds. It is important to determine the dates, times and locations in your area.

If you are voting by absentee ballot:

  • Request an absentee ballot: Some states require a reason other than COVID-19 to secure an absentee ballot; others require no reason at all. With little time remaining before the election, you may need to request that ballot as soon as possible to ensure that you can return it on time.
  • Determine how you will submit your ballot: There are two alternatives, via mail or via ballot drop-box. If you plan to return your ballot by mail, you will need enough postage for the envelope. You will also want to confirm the date mandated by your state by which ballots must be postmarked.

If you are planning to drop off your ballot, you can find the nearest drop box by checking your state’s Board of Elections’ website. Secure boxes (often monitored by surveillance cameras and/or election officials) are usually located in centralized county or city office buildings such as a library or city hall, or at your county’s Board of Elections’ office.

Remember to Vote

Even the best-laid plans are useless if they are not enacted. After you have done your research and crafted your plan, PLEASE remember to vote! Even better: vote early if possible. Your voice is so important; let it be heard.