Register. Show up. Vote!

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Please use the links below to skip to different sections in this post.

• The Cake & Cause
• General Voting & Election Day Tips
• Mail-In Voting Tips
• Voting Websites/Resources
• State Voting Deadlines & Links
• Extra Things You Can Do To Help

The Cake & Cause

As we are all aware, 2020 is a major election year. Regardless of the outcome, this upcoming election is already historic, and we, as proud United States citizens, need to do our part to make sure we fully participate in and protect our democracy. 

This post and educake are dedicated to making the process just a little bit easier and hopefully answering any questions you may have. 

First, let’s talk cake! I decided to make a vanilla cake with red, white, and blue vanilla buttercream filling and a red, white chocolate drip. To top off my cake, I made a few different voting-related buttons out of white modeling chocolate (which was delicious, by the way). And some of my buttons showcase some of the websites I’ll be referencing below. 

Now my cake is not perfect. The perfectionist in me is actually cringing a little bit at some of the flaws I can see and things I wish I had done better. In fact, normally, I would want to wait until I made a “perfect” cake, post, and video, before putting anything out there. However, just like with this upcoming election, we can’t always wait for perfect circumstances. 

I know a lot of people are rightfully disillusioned about our choices going into November 3rd. I know my first, second, or even third choice won’t be available on election day, but I also know that because we live in a democracy and because my vote matters, I need to get out there and make sure my voice is heard, so I can continue working towards my “perfect” vision of what this country can become. The alternative is unthinkable. 

I’m not going to tell you who you should or shouldn’t vote for; that is your decision to make. But I will provide you with resources to help you be as prepared as possible to:

1. Register before your state deadline or check your registration.
2. Show up by deciding how you’re going to submit your vote and following through.  
3. Vote while being fully informed about your ballot and making sure your vote is accepted and counted!

After this election, we will either continue having the same kind of leadership that has led to over 200,000 American deaths since this pandemic started, and a shattered economy filled with families that are struggling to keep roofs over their heads and food on their tables, or we will have a presidency that will try to bring some stability back to America; acknowledge the existence of science and work to address Covid-19; believe in climate change and help secure a future for younger generations; and, among many other things, provide us with the first Black and Indian, female, vice-president. 

For those reasons and many more, I will be voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in this upcoming election. I think that both Democratic and Republican ideals are at stake and regardless of your political party, every day Americans will continue to suffer if we don’t change our current leadership. We cannot continue to lose lives and livelihoods. I do not think Joe Biden is a perfect candidate and I will be watching him closely to see that he exceeds the expectations of those voting for him, but I am also well aware that should he not meet those expectations, I will have the ability to vote him out in four years, and in that time, I do not think he will lead our country into complete ruin while eroding the very fabric of our democracy. I also know that I can’t just vote in this election and wait for the next one. I need to support and vote for local and state candidates so I can help them get the attention they need to eventually compete on a national stage. 

I hope you’ll join me in using the rest of the information in this post to register, show up, and vote, not just in this election, but in every election moving forward! 

There is a lot you should be aware of when it comes to voting in your state, and each state is different, so you should look up the specifics using the resources below. 

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There can be a lot of confusion around voting with each state setting their own guidelines and rules but there are some general similarities across all states. Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind when voting: 

1. You are allowed to bring in notes, a voting guide, or a sample ballot with you. Ballot ready can help you run through your ballot and make your choices in advance. Then you can print it out and bring it with you on election day. Some states don’t allow cell phones so check with your local elections office if you want to use yours. 
2. Some states require identification. Make sure to check what the requirements are for yours. 
3. If you encounter any issues on election day, DO NOT LEAVE. There are many options available to you including provisional ballots. Every state except for Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming uses provisional ballots.

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Mail-in voting can be very easy and convenient. You get to research each question on your ballot in the comfort of your home, and in the age of Covid-19, you don’t have to potentially expose yourself through in-person voting. However, due to Covid-19 and the current state of our country, there are some legitimate concerns regarding mail-in voting and the ability for your ballot to arrive by the required deadline so, here are some important, general mail-in voting tips to keep in mind: 

1. Follow ALL the directions for filling out your ballot. Each state has their own requirements and, in some cases, forgetting something as simple as your signature on an envelope or a postage stamp could result in your vote not being counted. 
2. However, if you submit your ballot early enough, in some states, there are systems in place to allow you to fix certain mistakes and make sure your vote does ultimately count. 
3. If you don’t automatically get one, request your ballot as early as possible! Even if your deadline is far off, you want to make sure there is enough time for your ballot to arrive in the mail. 
4. In some states, you do not have to follow through with a mail-in ballot if you change your mind. You can bring the ballot with you to a polling location and cast your ballot in person instead. Check your state requirements.
5. YOU DON’T HAVE TO MAIL YOUR BALLOT! This is a really big and important one. In some states there are drop boxes you can use, or you can hand-deliver your ballot to certain polling locations or even the elections office. This is how I voted in the last election. It was the easiest thing and allowed me to have peace of mind around mailing in my ballot. 
6. You can track your ballot! Many states have systems in place that allow you to check and see if your ballot has been counted so you aren’t left wondering. 
7. If you are going to mail in your ballot, do so as soon as possible! Don’t wait. 
8. In some states you can drop off ballots for family members or other people. Check with yours to see if that’s an option. 

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With all that said, let’s hop into some of those resources. Many different organizations have decided to do their part to help mobilize everyone and ensure this is a fair election with all American voices represented. Below, you will find a chart with the name and link of just a few websites, along with a quick summary of what kind of help it provides. If you need a simple starting point, there are so many great options available, and I recommend checking out whenweallvote.org. It’s a comprehensive website that will allow you to check your registration (or register) before your deadline, make a plan to vote, and understand what will be on your ballot so you can be an educated voter.  

Need help with:	Check out:	Because:
Everything on a state level?	When We All Vote	In partnership with Rock the Vote, Ballot Ready, and Move on, it will allow you to do everything from registering, to checking out your ballot prior to the election, to helping others vote. It is a truly comprehensive one stop shop.
Early or mail-in voting?	Better Know A Ballot	It has a great short video for each state clearly explaining what you need to do to vote early or in person with specific links and instructions on how to get it done by the deadlines and even more information on each state page.
Understanding your ballot & deciding who and what  to vote for?	Ballot Ready	Using your provided address it will pull up your ballot and help you go through each question so you can decide how you want to vote the day of.
Registering and knowing next steps once you have?	Vote Save America	A great website with resources to be able to vote and plan next steps after registering. It includes steps you can take to help the election in ways other than voting and information on the candidates.
Understanding your voting options and voting in general?	I Will Vote	It lets you check your registration, register, and decide how you will vote. It also gives you guidance on how to make sure you’ve done things, such as mail-in voting, properly.
Finding a one stop shop for all things voting related?	Vote.org	It focuses completely on providing every detail for every state that you need in order to be able to register and vote. It also has a great countdown until the election.
Everything on a federal level?	USA.gov	This is the US government website that can give you general election information as well as state specific information by redirecting you to your state website.
Knowing what absentee & mail-in changes have been made due to Covid?	NCSL	Because that article is updated and lists any recent changes as of the writing on this post.

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State	Registration	Request Mail in/Absentee Ballot	Early Voting period
Alabama	Oct. 19	Oct. 29 – only if you meet Covid concerns requirements.	Only available under limited circumstances.
Alaska	Oct. 4	Oct. 24	Starts Oct. 19
Arizona	Oct. 5	Oct. 23 – all registered voters should automatically receive a ballot request form in the mail.	Starts Oct. 7
Arkansas	Oct. 5	Oct. 27	Starts Oct. 19
California	Oct. 19	Oct. 27 – In early October all registered voters should automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot in the mail.	Oct. 5 – Nov. 2
Colorado	Oct. 26	In early October all registered voters should automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot in the mail.	Oct. 19 – Nov 3.
Connecticut	Oct. 27	Nov. 2 – All registered voters should automatically receive a ballot request form in the mail.	N/A
Delaware	Oct. 10	Oct. 30 – All registered voters should automatically receive a ballot request form in the mail.	N/A
Florida	Oct. 5 Updated to Oct. 6	Oct. 24	Oct. 19 – Nov. 1
Georgia	Oct. 5	Oct. 30	Starts Oct. 12
Hawaii	Oct. 5	All active, registered voters will receive their ballot in the mail by Oct. 16. If not, contact your county clerk.	Vote by mail.
Idaho	Oct. 9	Oct. 23	Oct. 19 – Oct. 30Depends on your county
Illinois	Oct. 18	By mail Oct. 29In-person Nov. 2 All registered voters should automatically receive a ballot request form in the mail.	Sep. 24 – Nov. 2
Indiana	Oct. 5	Oct 22. – Only under special circumstances.	Oct. 6 – Nov. 2
Iowa	Oct. 24	Oct. 24 – All registered voters should automatically receive a ballot request form in the mail.	Oct. 5 – Nov. 2
Kansas	Oct. 13	Possibly Oct. 27	Oct. 14 – Nov. 2
Kentucky	Oct. 5	Oct. 9	Oct. 13 – Nov. 2
Louisiana	Oct. 13	Oct. 30 – must apply and meet requirements.	Oct. 16 – Oct. 27(excluding Sundays)
Maine	Oct. 19	Oct. 29 (for online requests)	Absentee (Oct. 4 – Oct. 30)
Maryland	Oct. 13	Oct. 21 – All active, registered voters should automatically receive a ballot application in the mail.	Oct. 26 – Nov. 2
Massachusetts	Oct. 24	Oct. 28 – All registered voters should automatically receive a ballot request form in the mail.	Oct. 17 – Oct. 30
Michigan	Oct. 19	Oct. 30 – All registered voters should automatically receive an absentee voting application in the mail.	Absentee ballots can be dropped off starting Sep. 24.
Minnesota	Oct. 13	N/A	Sep. 18 – Nov. 2
Mississippi	Oct. 5	ASAP under certain circumstances (pg. 4).	N/A
Missouri	Oct. 7	Oct. 21 – different requirements for absentee & mail-in	N/A
Montana	Oct. 26	ASAP – this is the application	Check your county – some are mail in only, others in person.
Nebraska	Oct. 16	All registered voters will receive early voting ballot applications starting Sep. 28. But you can apply for one if you haven’t.	Oct. 5 – Nov. 2
Nevada	Oct. 29	All active, registered voters should receive their ballot in the mail. Check your registration.	Oct. 17 – Oct. 30
New Hampshire	Oct. 21 – Oct. 28 (depending on where you live)	Covid 19 is an acceptable reason – request ASAP	N/A
New Jersey	Oct. 13	Registered voters should automatically receive ballots in the mail. Or apply.	Check your county.
New Mexico	Oct. 6	Oct. 20 – Apply	Oct. 17 – Oct. 31(Absentee – Oct. 6)
New York	Oct. 9	Oct. 27 (online, mail, email, fax) Nov. 2 (in person)	Oct. 24 – Nov. 1
North Carolina	Oct 9	Oct. 27	Oct. 15 – Oct. 31
North Dakota	Not required- No registration	Asap apply here.	Oct. 19 – Nov. 2
Ohio	Oct. 5	3rd day before election – All registered voters should have received an absentee ballot request form in the mail.	Oct. 6 – Nov. 2
Oklahoma	Oct. 9	Oct. 27	Oct. 29 – Oct. 31
Oregon	Oct. 13	Vote by mail state – All voters will receive a 2020 ballot in the mail about 2 weeks before the election. Confirm your registration & address.	Ideally, hand deliver your ballots ASAP or postmark them by Oct. 27
Pennsylvania	Oct. 19	ASAP	Sep. 14 – Oct. 27
Rhode Island	Oct. 4	Oct. 13	Oct. 14 – Nov. 2
South Carolina	Oct. 4 (online)	Oct. 24	Absentee (Oct. 5 – Nov. 2)
South Dakota	Oct. 19	Nov. 2	Sep. 18 – Nov. 2
Tennessee	Oct. 5	Under special circumstances	Oct. 14 – Oct. 29
Texas	Oct. 5	If you meet the criteria, apply here.	Oct. 13 – Oct. 30
Utah	Oct. 23	Mail-in ballots are automatically sent to registered voters. Check your address here.	Oct. 20 – Oct. 30
Vermont	No set deadline Oct. 30 (ideally)	Mail-in ballots are automatically sent to registered voters. Double check your address.	Starts Sep. 19
Virginia	Oct. 13	Oct. 23	Sep. 18 – Oct. 31
Washington	Oct. 26	All registered voters should receive a 2020 ballot in the mail by Oct. 16. Confirm your registration and address.	Oct. 16 – Nov. 3
West Virginia	Oct. 13	ASAP	Oct. 21 – Oct. 31
Wisconsin	Oct. 14	Oct. 20	Oct. 20 – Nov. 1
Wyoming	Oct 19	ASAP	Absentee until Nov. 2

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If you’ve made it here, AWESOME! Here are 5 simple things you can do to help ensure that democracy survives past this upcoming election: 

1. Adopt a state! This is an opportunity to help impact the swing states that could determine the outcome of this election.
2. Register to be a poll worker. Covid-19 has prevented many elderly and compromised individuals from being poll workers this year. A shortage of workers could cause voting problems and delays on election day.
3. Help reinstate voting rights for people who have paid their dues to society and were granted the right to vote again by paying off some fines! If you want to know why this is important, read this.
4. Tell your friends and family about this post or any of these resources!
5. Help register at least 1-3 people and help them make a plan to vote whether it’s by mail, early in-person, or the day of! 

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