After months of paradigm shifts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the presidential election faces many changes The pandemic has dramatically altered the way voting is conducted for this election
Many states have their own policies regarding postal voting, which can confuse voters about what to do to get their vote
Absentee voting is allowed in every US state, but was historically reserved for soldiers deployed with the US armed forces or those who were unable to physically make it to the poll
However, in the wake of the pandemic, at least 35 states have changed their policies on postal voting eligibility
States like California, New Jersey and Nevada have automatically sent out mail ballots to registered voters Some officials may use the terms mentioned above, such as « mail ballot » or « universal mail ballot » »In these states
Other states, such as New York, have changed their policies to extend absentee voting rights to those who are « unable to attend personally at the polling station in the electoral district in which they are present. qualified voters because there is a risk of contracting or spreading a disease causing the disease to the voter or other members of the public «
Since students often do not live at permanent addresses and sometimes live outside their home state to attend school, they often have difficulty voting, and enrollment variability in states does not make it easy For example, dorms may be rejected as proof of residency because they are not considered permanent accommodation Additionally, many states require a driver’s license or state ID card , which makes it difficult for international students to register to vote in the state where they attend school
Postal ballots are therefore a frequently used option At USC, students face different voting circumstances, depending on the options available to them
Kevin Paul, a sophomore at USC currently living in Texas – where mail-in ballots are restricted to those 65 or older, sick or disabled, out of county or in jail – vote in person on polling day
Even when all the right steps are taken, there can be delays for people trying to get all of their official forms and vote
Aisha Kazembe, a USC junior living near campus, votes in Iowa election by absent ballot « It took a long time for the candidacy to get here and the ballot also took a long time » , she said
Some states require specific apologies or sections of notarized ballot forms before they can submit or even receive their mail-in ballots In the wake of the pandemic, voters have seen increased accessibility to mail-in ballots , which has significantly helped ease the process in some states for many students
USC sophomore Vishesh Amin, registered to vote in Arizona, has already voted by mail and had no problems
« Voting by mail was more convenient than going to a polling center in person, and I would prefer not to be in an area with a high concentration of people to avoid possible exposure to the corona [virus] », a- he declared
Visit your state’s Voting Information Center to register to vote and find information about voting by mail If you are in California, the in-person registration deadline is November 3, and the date limit for the request for a postal vote is oct 27 The deadline for return by post: postmarked before November 3 and received no later than Nov 20, Deadline for return in person: Nov 3 at 8:00 p.m.
Emmett Fuchs is a second year student at USC majoring in Journalism and Law, History and Culture Born in Hastings on Hudson, New York
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Postal voting, ballot paper
News from around the world – GB – For students, postal voting is useful, but sometimes complicated
