OBJECTIVES Ensure that you know how to safely vote during COVID-19 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
OBJECTIVES Ensure that you know how to safely vote during COVID-19 Clear understanding of where to go with questions Where to go with voter protection issues That you leave tonight with the tools and knowledge to helps friends and
helps friends and family vote in the election
mailed a ballot
available for those who need it
Vote By Mail (Best Option) Official Ballot Drop Box Voting Centers There are 3 ways to vote in the election:
ALL ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS WILL RECEIVE A BALLOT If you have not received your ballot, check on the status asap at elections.maryland.gov You can request a ballot to be sent to you electronically. Must be able to print and return (no postage included). When completing your ballot:
Mailing back your ballot: Postage is pre-paid. No stamps needed! Ballots must be postmarked on or before June 2nd.
APRIL 28TH
If you want to drop off your voted ballot instead of mailing it, there will be at least one drop off location in each county. Large jurisdictions like Prince George’s County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County will have up to 4. Drop Boxes will be available beginning on May 21st - June 2nd (Election Day). Most drop Boxes do not require voters to leave their car. Ballots must be sealed and signed with black pen. Ballots must be deposited in Drop Box before 8pm on June 2
Each county will have between one to four in-person voting centers available for voters not voting by mail. Vote centers will be open from 7am-8pm on June 2nd. Same day registration will be available (may require submitting a provisional ballot) Ballot marking devices will be available for voters with disabilities as well as assistance for other voting issues. Voters going to these locations must where masks. Voting Centers will maintain strict social distancing and sanitation protocols.
can begin to be announced after 8pm
*If you did not receive, be sure to contact the State Board of Elections elections.maryland.gov
Across the US 33 states (including Maryland) already allow any eligible voter to request an absentee ballot and/or vote by mail without needing to provide a reason. Benefits
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Paper record of every vote in case of a recount
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Few instances of fraud
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Voters have time to sit with the ballot and do their research
Electronic Ballot Delivery
Large Print Ballot
In Person Voting
accessible ballot marking devices
NEW CITIZENS & LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY
SPANISH LANGUAGE HOTLINE: (888)VE-Y-VOTA AAPI LANGUAGE HOTLINE: (888)API-VOTE ARABIC LANGUAGE HOTLINE: (844)YALLA-US CASA LANGUAGE HOTLINE: (888)214-6016
Federal Law Requires Montgomery County to provide election material in Spanish. Prince George’s County has also started robust outreach in Spanish. Don’t live in Montgomery or Prince George’s County? (Other Counties) Spanish 2020 Primary Election Materials
Other Language Assistance Needed?
GET REGISTERED PROPERLY
Check online to confirm that you are registered to vote, register to vote, print
request an absentee ballot.
VOTE FROM HOME
You can mail in your ballot or drop it off at a drop box. If you haven't received your ballot, reach out to the Board of Elections.
ELECTION DAY VOTE CENTERS
If all else fails you can go to a vote center on Election Day to vote and register to vote.
Young voters are the largest voting block in the country but as new voters, they struggle to navigate the process. Let’s ensure young people have the information they need to participate.
Voting for Returning Citizens
people with felony convictions to vote once they have been released from incarceration.
completed their sentence are eligible to vote in the state of Maryland.
voter eligibility if they are still unsure. campaignlegal.org/restoreyourvote
Voting for Eligible Incarcerated Voters
currently incarcerated ARE eligible to vote in elections.
made it difficult for advocates to lead these efforts.
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If people have access to those behind the wall, work with them to request their ballot and have it delivered to their facility.
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You can also serve as their proxy (completed certification to do this would be needed). Contact us to support these efforts! Getinfo@out4justice.org (443)563-2123
Have you moved since you last voted?
Board of Elections
For example, moved to a retirement community
ELECTIONS.MARYLAND.GOV
Who can vote? Any US Citizen who is 18 years old by primary election and registered to vote Can I vote in a party primary election? Generally, yes. Maryland has closed primaries so voters must be registered with either the Democratic or Republican parties to vote in party-affiliated races. Voters who are not affiliated with these parties will receive a nonpartisan ballot if there are nonpartisan races on your ballot (example: municipal offices, nominees for board
May I change political parties? Yes! For the 2020 Primary Election, the deadline to change your party affiliation is May 27, 2020. Do I have to affiliate with a political party? No, you do not. If you do not select a political party on your voter registration application, you will be "unaffiliated" with any political party.
FREE VOTER RESOURCES
Vote411.org ○ Voter and state/local/federal candidate information ○ LWV Guide is also available in a paper format and in Spanish
○ https://campaignfinance.maryland.gov/ ○ View state and local candidate contributions and disclosures (More info on next slide)
○ “Certifies” candidates who meet our small money criteria ○ Established in 2018. Please join the commission! ○ https://www.facebook.com/RepMD.Small.Money.Commission/
○ https://www.fec.gov/ (click on the Campaign Finance Data dropdown menu) ○ https://www.opensecrets.org/
KNOW WHAT CANDIDATES STAND FOR BEFORE YOU VOTE!
TIPS: Maryland CRIS is only for state and local candidates, not federal. For a report of donations, click on contributions; for a report on money spent, click on expenditures. Search by the candidates last name and be sure to choose an (active) committee. If nothing comes up for the candidates last name, write a comma next to it [Example: Smith,]. Filter by dates, etc using the other boxes shown in the fourth slide. DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT CRISTI WITH ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT NAVIGATING MD CRIS
Click on Disclosures Click on Contributions or Expenditures Click Accept Search by candidate’s last name Press Search Records appear at the bottom.
Election Protection hotline: (443)399-3229 Sign up to be a local volunteer: espana@aclu-md.org
Election Protection provides Maryland voters with comprehensive information and assistance at all stages of voting – from registration, to absentee and early voting, to casting a vote at the polls, to overcoming obstacles to their participation. We’re here to help voters make sure their vote are counted!