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DC denizens! I went for training this morning to be a ballot clerk. (If you've never been a poll worker, I highly recommend it!)
In the process, I got a lot of questions answered about voting you might have about ballots, where to vote, early voting, etc.
(Thread!!!!!)
In the process, I got a lot of questions answered about voting you might have about ballots, where to vote, early voting, etc.
(Thread!!!!!)
Every registered voter will receive a ballot in the mail. You should have received a card from DCBOE that verifies who are the registered voters at your address.
If there is someone who shouldn't get a ballot, it back. PRO TIP: fold the card in half, tape it, then send.
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If there is someone who shouldn't get a ballot, it back. PRO TIP: fold the card in half, tape it, then send.
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Fill out your ballot, mail it back. Done!
But what about in-person voting? Election Day is now election week and there will be voting at 17 locations in DC from 8:00am-7:30pm starting October 27th.
But where are you *supposed* to vote? This is pretty cool:
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But what about in-person voting? Election Day is now election week and there will be voting at 17 locations in DC from 8:00am-7:30pm starting October 27th.
But where are you *supposed* to vote? This is pretty cool:
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DC is not using precincts for voting. Any voter can vote at any voting location during early voting AND on election. The city has transitioned to an on-demand printer so you show up, tell them your address, they find your voter registration, and print off the ballot you need.
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But what if you aren't registered? DC allows for same day registration. You need to bring proof of residence (a utility bill, among many other things).
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But if you were mailed a ballot, can you still vote in person? Yes. The mailed ballots are to encourage absentee, not require it. If you don't return the mailed ballot, you can show up during Election Week and vote in person.
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But what if you were mailed a ballot and you sent it back but you're worried that the postal service wouldn't have delivered it on time? You can hand deliver your ballot to any voting location. Or, you can ask at any voting place if they've received it.
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Really! The database of voter registration will record when mailed in ballots are received. So if you sent one in, but it's not in by election day, you can vote in person. The ballot they get first is the one they count.
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Okay, BUT, what if they *say* they got it but you aren't sure their system is right because they aren't exactly batting a thousand on maintaining databases, based on the 9 voters that are registered to your studio apartment?
Fair question.
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Fair question.
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You can still vote in person. It will be a provisional ballot that they don't accept until they verify you don't have another one.
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And what if you want to vote in person but you don't want to go inside because of covid concerns? Then don't go in. All of the voting centers will maintain distancing, but they will also have curbside voting. They've always had, but they are streamlining the process a bit.
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Moral of the story: If you are worried about any part of it, go to a voting center. You can go to any center in the city and you have a week to vote. 17 will be open the week before and 90 on election day.
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Last election I was a special ballot clerk and handled same-day registration. Some thought they were already registered. A lot had moved recently. Some were homeless and came in with a letter from their shelter.
I registered hundreds of people.
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I registered hundreds of people.
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Coda to the moral of the story:
It ain't perfect, but DC wants you to vote.
/end.
It ain't perfect, but DC wants you to vote.
/end.
