By Heidi Rand and Ann Daniels
Deadline: NOW & until November 3 –
Are you ready for a new President? We said: ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW PRESIDENT?
The General Election – also known as the Presidential Election, although there’s lots more on the ballot – is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. That’s the last day in California to vote in person or to return or mail a Vote By Mail (VBM) ballot.
How / When / Where to vote:
For all info, including step-by-step instructions on how to vote in California, visit HowToVoteForPresident.SoS.CA.gov. Indivisible East Bay members can also learn about our counties’ election processes, including different ways to vote and much more, at these links: Alameda County and Contra Costa County.
Registration questions in California? Visit RegisterToVote.ca.gov to:
- Check your registration
- Learn deadlines to register online or in person
- Register online now, pre-register or update your voter registration
Valuable resources for California voters:
- Find an early voting location or where you can drop off your completed ballot.
- Track your ballot! Find out when your VBM ballot is mailed, received and counted – all California voters can sign up for the Secretary of State’s “Where’s My Ballot” tracking tool to get notified by email, text, and/or voice call. Sign up here.
- Got questions about how to register or vote? You can use Sam, the new elections chatbot that pops up when you visit vote.ca.gov or sos.ca.gov/elections
- Need more help? California voter hotlines: voting help in ten languages & text telephone (TTY/DDD)
- Make sure your ballot isn’t rejected! Check out NPR’s tips for California voters on how to fill out your Vote By Mail ballot.
- More about your ballot: For thorough and clear information about what’s on your ballot, visit Ballotpedia’s California 2020 webpage. Another great resource is the Voter’s Edge Guide (a partnership of the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund’s Smart Voter and MapLight). It includes in-depth info about what’s on your ballot, plus much more.
- Want to help people exercise their right to vote? Sign up at PollWorker.sos.ca.gov to be an elections poll worker.
Valuable resources for voters everywhere – pass it on:
- Vote.org has lots of info and an easy-to-recall url to tell friends.
- Election Protection uses a wide range of tools and activities to protect, advance and defend the right to vote, including voter helplines in several languages.
- When We All Vote’s goal is to make sure all eligible voters are registered and ready to vote. They work with Rock The Vote to give specific info about local elections and more.
- Indivisible has joined with TurboVote to help you sign up to get election reminders, register to vote, apply for your absentee ballot, etc.
- This article has info about tracking your ballot in other states. Most states allow it statewide, in a few it depends on the county.
- The League of Women Voters’ Education Fund 411.org gives personalized voter info, voting guides, and more.
- Visit Ballotpedia’s 2020 election webpage.
- The National Association of Secretaries of States’ website helps eligible voters figure out how and where to vote.
2020 Election ballot drop box, photo by George McRae
Heidi Rand fights the evil empire with skills gained as a Ninth Circuit staff attorney and civil rights lawyer, using words to resist, and to inform and inspire others to take action. She also wields a mean camera and knitting needles, though not at the same time.
Ann G. Daniels’ checkered professional background includes practicing law, reproductive rights advocacy, creating web content for nonprofits and educational organizations, and teaching adult and family literacy. She also designs jewelry, teaches knitting, and sings second soprano.
