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Create Your Voting Plan
1. Make sure you are registered to vote, especially if you haven't voted recently or if you have moved. Monroe Country residents can go to: https://www2.monroecounty.gov/elections-index.php to check their registration and register if needed. The deadline to register to vote is Friday, October 9, 2020 - this applies whether you register online, by mail (postmark date), or in person.
2. Request your absentee/vote-by-mail ballot early. ASAP.
Voting by mail is the safest way to vote amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Take the following steps to receive a mail ballot so you will be ready to vote in November.
For those in Monroe County – there is good news! Applications for an absentee ballot are being sent by mail to all residents who are actively registered to vote in Monroe County. The new application form reflects the new NYS ruling that concern about COVID is a sufficient reason for using absentee/mail-in voting.
The Absentee Voting application can also be downloaded from the Monroe County Board of Elections website, at https://www2.monroecounty.gov/elections-absentee.php/.
3. When you get the application, fill it out carefully as directed. Then, you can mail it back via USPS OR drop it off at the Monroe County Board of Elections office at 39 W. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Do this as soon as possible, so your name will be in the system when it’s time for them to send out the ballots in October.
4. When you get the ballot itself (sent out in October): Send in your ballot as soon as possible to avoid delays in delivery. You can mail it in by USPS, drop it off at the Board of Elections office 39 W. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614, or drop it off at one of the Early Voting Centers (locations, dates and times listed at https://www2.monroecounty.gov/elections-earlyvoting).
5. Early, in-person voting options: If you want to go to the polls, you can vote before the election on Nov. 3. In Monroe County there will be 12 Early Voting Centers, open during specific hours from Oct 24 – Nov 1. Early Voting Centers function much like a normal polling site on Election Day but with more staff and heightened expertise. Find the locations and times on the MCBOE website, https://www2.monroecounty.gov/elections-earlyvoting.
Summary of dates:
Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
The deadline to register to vote is Friday, October 9, 2020 - this applies whether you register online, by mail (postmark date), or in person.
The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Tuesday, October 27, 2020.
The early voting period in Monroe County runs from Saturday, October 24, 2020 to Sunday, November 1, 2020. Again, locations and times are listed on the MCBOE website at https://www2.monroecounty.gov/elections-earlyvoting
REMEMBER: It is most important to fill out your application as soon as you receive it – and send back the ballot as soon as you receive that. This year especially it is critical that all ballots are sent in a timely way – to avoid expected problems in delivery.
For those NOT in Monroe County:
Check: Vote.org to find out how to request an absentee/vote-by-mail ballot in your state.
Check: Whether your state recently expanded access to voting by mail.
Request: Your absentee ballot today (or put it on your calendar).
For U.S. voters overseas: Request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application by August 1. In 2016, only about 7% of eligible overseas voters cast a ballot, versus nearly 72% of those stateside. Voting from abroad encourages legislators to attend to issues affecting citizens living internationally.
For more information see Americans Of Conscience Vote 2020.
Help Get Out the Vote in 2020!
Momsrising is making it super easy (and totally FREE) for you to participate in a powerful Get-Out-The-Vote effort for the 2020 election!
Vote Forward & Daily Kos: are working together to increase civic participation by sending letters to voters. See the link for important information.
Postcards to Voters makes it easy: You can use your own postcards; buy "vote" themed postcards, or get 35-cent postcard stamps by mail.
And get writing!
The League of Women Voters (www.lwv.org/) has many opportunities and resources to engage in the work of fighting voter suppression and increasing voter registration.
Environmental Voter Project engages in phone & text banking to increase voter turn-out among the 16 million environmentalists who don't vote. Trainings are held weekly - check it out!
Poll Workers Needed! The Monroe County Board of Elections is still looking for members of our community to work on Election Day as Election Inspectors. See this brochure to find out more.
Looking ahead to October: Join others on the 1st day of early voting, Saturday, October 24, 12 noon, at Rochester's Liberty Pole to march and cast our votes together. More info here!
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