With November 3rd approaching quickly, it’s entirely normal to have a question or twelve surrounding the upcoming election. This would be true for any election — but during a global pandemic, things are just getting weirder.
Since voting in 2020 is, well...complicated, here are some resources to help your patrons get out the vote.
Helping your audience register to vote is the one of the most important things you can do to engage in the 2020 election. Here’s a list of resources to help them get that coveted “I Voted” sticker:
- Registration deadlines: The deadline to register depends on where your patron lives. Send them to Vote.org to find the cutoff in their state.
- Register online: Send them to VoteAmerica.com to get registered in their district.
- Check registration status: Your patrons can quickly check on the success of their online registration here.
Because that voting guide sitting on your coffee table is thicker than a graphic novel, encourage your patrons to get a sample ballot at Ballotpedia. The voter guide is generated in seconds based on their address and can help them sort through the many candidates and issues they’ll be voting on in November.
If your patrons aren’t able to vote in person, help them make their voices heard from the safety of their homes:
- Get an absentee ballot: Vote.org makes getting an absentee ballot online easy.
- Rules and deadlines to register are different in each state, so while you’re at it, be sure to have them read up on the specifics of their home turf.
COVID-19 threw a wrench in pretty much everything, and voting is no different. Despite that, election officials are working hard to make sure voters can safely hit the polls. Here's some info to help your patrons vote in person:
- Find a polling-place: To help your patrons locate a polling place in their district, send them here.
- COVID-19 updates: Questions about COVID-19 and voting in person? Vote.org can help your patrons stay up-to-date on how the pandemic is affecting voting in their state.
Voting is a pillar of democracy, and it can’t happen without an army of good samaritans. Patrons who want to go above and beyond the call of civic duty can visit the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and sign up to become a poll worker.
