“Call elections office.” In the past year, it has been on my weekly to-do list over ten times. Allow me to explain why.
I have been registered to vote since before my 18th birthday, but it wasn’t until last September, my first semester away at college, that I realized I hadn’t requested my absentee ballot. On my local election website, I entered my name, birthdate, and address, and signed up to receive my ballot by mail. I was not done. Since I was living at Smith, not at home, I had to send an extra form with my signature to verify the secondary address. According to their website, I was to bring the form to their office.
As November quickly approached, I realized that mailing the form would take too long. I had to get my request in quickly if I wanted to receive my ballot with enough time to mail it back. This marked the first time that I crossed the item off of my to-do list and called the elections office. They gave me an email I could send it to and I marched on over to Hillyer Art Library to scan it in. I’ll note that there was no indication on their website that emailing the form was a viable option.
I emailed the form, requesting that all future ballots, until I graduate, be sent to Smith. In March, with the presidential primaries coming up, I awaited my ballot, eager to cast my vote. Then, my mom texted. “Your ballot arrived today.” What? Why did my mom receive my ballot in Florida I’d asked for it to be sent to Massachusetts? The temporary solution was for my mom to mail the ballot and call the elections office again to sort it all out. But before I could place the call, my ballot arrived – not the one that my mom had put into a manilla envelope, but my actual ballot. The elections office had sent two ballots, each addressed to me, to two different locations. I disposed of the one my mom had forwarded and cast my vote.
On March 10, as you know, an email from President McCartney changed everything. Due to the coronavirus, practically the entire student body was being sent home.
“Call elections office”
It went back on my to-do list. But in July, McCartney announced that sophomores would be returning to campus in the fall.
“Call elections office”
I called and told an amiable woman that I would be in Florida for our August 18 primary, but that I would be back in Massachusetts for the November general election. She made a note and told me that if anything changed again, I just needed to call.
Things did change again. In August, another email from our president appeared in my inbox. Despite their previous plan, I would no longer be going back to campus this year.
“Call elections office”
I cast my vote in the August primaries and called the office yet again. Please send my November general election ballot to my home in Florida, I asked.
My point is that “call elections office” should be on your to-do list, too. If you have moved since you last voted, if you are unsure of where or how to vote this November, and even if there is no indication that you need to, call your elections office. Each day brings about new change and your elections office will not call you. Confirm any information you think you know and have them talk you through everything in their records. If your registration status has changed, the time to find out is not November 3 when you arrive at the polls, it is now. You can check your registration at www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/ or by (say it with me now) calling your elections office. Due to COVID-19, your preferred method of voting might have changed. You will get the most accurate dates and procedures regarding vote by mail and early voting by calling (hint: ask about the rules regarding surrendering your blank ballot at the polls). This election season is the time to be proactive, to make your voice heard, and to cast your vote, no matter the cost.
You can find your local election office’s website at www.usa.gov/election-office
Smith Votes has resources on the All In Campus Democracy Challenge, Turbovote, voter registration, and the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE)
