1/ Q: So, I might want to vote by mail. What should I be planning for?
A: The very first step in ANY voting plan is checking your voter registration or registering to vote, & we’re ready to help you with that too!
2/ Voting by mail is a safe & secure way to make your voice heard in November, & if you think voting by mail is best for you, we have a few tips & tricks to share. If you’d rather vote in person, we’ll talk more about staying safe at the polls in a few weeks!
3/ First things first: you must be registered to vote to cast a ballot by mail OR in person. We recommend checking your state’s requirements at Vote.gov, which will link directly to information about the process in your state.
4/ Even if you think you registered, or you voted successfully in the primary, CHECK AGAIN! Some states are changing procedures & deadlines to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, & you can’t be too careful. It takes less time than washing your hands.
5/ If you want to get involved with helping others register to vote, we want to highlight @votehealth2020, a non-partisan organization working tirelessly to encourage healthcare workers to register to vote & to support their peers & patients to do the same!
6/ We love that @votehealth2020 empowers healthcare workers to take action in voter registration, & that they support other organizations seeking to increase voter registration with ready-to-use digital resources. To our followers in the healthcare community, check them out!
7/ NEXT: Voting by mail. Mail-in ballots are already being distributed, & you should still have time to receive one if you want. Most, but not all, states have the option to vote by mail or via absentee ballot for the November election.
8/ If you think you want to vote by mail, DO NOT WAIT to look up the rules in your state to figure out how to get your ballot. It’s a great way to reduce your risk of exposure to COVID-19 while still casting your vote.
vote.gov
9/ Once you have your ballot in hand, the real fun begins. Articles from Business Insider & NBC News outline some ways to help prevent your ballot from being rejected. bit.ly/32Vp17l
nbcnews.to/300mwPh
10/ TL;DR, here are a few highlights:
1️⃣ Deadlines: Make sure you know if your ballot must be RECEIVED by Election Day, POSTMARKED by Election Day, or received by another date to make sure your vote counts. Easiest way to avoid this issue? Send in your ballot early!
11/ 2️⃣Follow instructions: Don’t take anything for granted, even the kind of ink they want you to use. A VERY COMMON reason for a mail-in ballot being rejected is because the voter forgot to sign somewhere – try to ensure your signature will match the one in the DMV/voter reg.
12/ 3️⃣Check for special rules: Some ballots require additional documentation, like a witness signature, & others might have a “secrecy envelope” that is meant to protect your ballot. Don’t assume that your ballot will look the same as it did if you voted by mail in the primaries.
13/ 4️⃣Track your ballot: Most (but not all) states have some sort of system to ensure your ballot is received & in some cases, accepted. If you mail in early enough & track your ballot until it arrives safely, you can rest easy knowing your vote is counted.
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