Today, we celebrate the centennial of the passing of the 19 Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. That was one struggle. The second was left for women of color for whom it took decades before they were fully enfranchised.. This is an important day to honor these struggles and remember the importance of voting.
With summer starting to wind down, the November 3rd General Election isn’t as far away as it once seemed. Maybe it is the Democratic, and soon Republican National Convention, or it could be the controversy surrounding support for the United States Postal Service. Now it’s time to put voting at the front of our minds. It is fundamental to our democracy and a right that people literally fought and died to attain and preserve.
First and foremost is registering to vote. If you need to register, visit the Citizen Artist Baltimore website for registration resources, eligibility requirements, and to see if you are already registered or need to update your information.
Next are the mechanics of the election. Delegate Maggie MacIntosh of District 34 provides the following information and advice on how to vote.
“The upcoming November 3rd Election is one of the most important of our lifetime, and there are important facts you need to know. The Maryland State Board of Elections and the governor have made significant changes to the way the coming election will be handled. Please note carefully:
YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A BALLOT AUTOMATICALLY IN THE MAIL, as we all did for the June primary election. You must request a mail-in (absentee) ballot. Details below.
YOUR LOCAL POLLING PLACE WILL LIKELY NOT BE OPEN.
There will only be 360 polling sites in the entire state, primarily public high schools and large venues. However, you will be able to vote in any polling site in the city, for both the Early Voting period and Election Day.
To vote by mail, you can wait for a ballot request form to be mailed to you at the same time everyone else in the state receives one, or you can order a mail-in (absentee) ballot today. Ballots will be printed on August 28 and then mailed out. To avoid the crush and lighten the administrative load on the Board of Elections.
I urge you to ORDER YOUR BALLOT TODAY and mail it back quickly. This will help to prevent the system from becoming overloaded, and you will have plenty of time to make sure that your vote has been received and counted.”
You can follow the Delegate’s urging and request your ballot NOW by visiting this link!
Regardless of your political affiliation, don’t miss this historic opportunity to participate in the democratic process!
Best,
Jeannie
Important dates:
Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
The deadline to register online to vote is Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
The deadline to register in-person to vote is Tuesday, October 13, 2020.
The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
The early voting period runs from Monday, October 26, 2020 to Monday, November 2, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
You can also register and vote on Election Day.
