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As election day draws near, cases of voter suppression are emerging throughout the country and most significantly in Texas — a key battleground state. Mail-in ballots became a popular choice of voting due to the coronavirus pandemic. Fear of postal delays following the defunding of the United States Postal Service prompted counties to set up safe dropbox locations for voters to deposit absentee and mail-in ballots. Barely a month from Election Day, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an order limiting each county to one dropbox location. This forced Harris County, the largest county in Texas with over 4.5 million residents, to shut down 11 other drop boxes. To put it into perspective Harris County is the size of the state of Rhode Island.
If voting didn’t make a difference, there wouldn’t be such efforts to restrict our right to. In an earlier post, we covered how voting disenfranchisement happens in the U.S. Below we put together a step-by-step guide on how to combat voter suppression.
- Opt to vote by mail OR early in-person
Election Day poll locations can get busy so you can avoid crowds and longer wait times by voting on an earlier date or by mail. Both options also lower your chances of experiencing voter intimidation. Private militias who deployed themselves at protests earlier this year are likely to show up at polling locations under the guise of promoting public safety. Contemporary militias and voter intimidation are both illegal and can be reported at 866-OUR-VOTE.
2. Safeguard your mail-in ballot
It sounds simple enough but you’ll be surprised how easily your absentee or mail-in ballot can be disqualified. Make sure to use the right ink color and fill in the bubble as instructed. Triple check your ballot and envelopes for signature requirements. And before you sign, confirm that you’re using the signature on your current Driver’s License. Some states require extra documentation like a photocopy of your ID and 2 witness signatures or notarization. And of utmost importance, turn in your ballot before the deadline. Ballots received after the cut-off will not be counted.
3. Monitor your voter registration
Between major election voter registration lists (or “voter rolls”) are maintained by removing voters with duplicate names, who have passed away or moved, or who are recently ineligible to vote. This form of maintenance becomes unconstitutional when voters are purged from the rolls for not participating in past elections or based on inaccurate data.
Sign up to monitor your registration on Voterly. You’ll receive a notification if any changes are made to your official registration status.
4. Check your state’s photo ID requirements
Over 33 states require some form of identification in order to vote. Unfortunately, these laws have resulted in suppressing the vote of minority communities who are less likely to have access to photo ID’s. Get ahead of it and research what’s required for your state. While you’re at it, get up to date on your state’s election laws as changes can be made at any time.
5. Catch a ride to the polls
In the 2016 presidential election, it was estimated that 15 million eligible voters didn’t make it to the polls because they didn’t have a form of reliable transportation. Rideshare companies, Lyft and Uber, launched initiatives to expand voter access that offer free or discounted rides to polling locations or drop boxes on Election Day.
Also check your local government website for information on free or discounted fares via public transportation in your city. Most do!
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