Time - USA (2020-11-02)

ANSWERED

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF

SOMEONE TRIES TO STOP

ME FROM VOTING?

A: Report it. If you’re at a
polling place, fl ag a poll worker
or another offi cial. If you’re
elsewhere, notify your state
or local election offi cials.
Numbers and email addresses
are usually easy to fi nd online.
If you have additional
questions or run into problems,
call or text 866-OUR-VOTE.
The hotline is a nonpartisan
resource run by Election
Protection, a coalition of voting-
access advocacy groups. You
can also direct message or
chat with a volunteer online.
Keep in mind that voter
suppression can take many
forms—physical threats,
intimidating phone calls and
misinformation designed to
keep you from casting your
ballot. Even if you end up
voting, speak up about what
happened. Your colleagues
and neighbors may be facing
similar challenges.
ÑLissandra Villa

Is it better to vote early,

or on Election Day?

A:THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO SINGLE

right answer. COVID-19 is impacting ev-

eryone’s health, job and support system

diff erently. But if you’ve decided to forgo

absentee or voting by mail—or if those

are not options for you in your state—

here are some factors to consider.

Early voting off ers some clear ben-

efi ts because polling places are often less

crowded than they are on Election Day.

It’s an easy way to decrease your risk of

exposure to COVID-19 while still voting

in person. Most states are off ering some

form of in-person voting before Election

Day this year, and many have upped the

number of hours and days that polling

places are open. Some states have also ex-

tended voting to weekends—which is all

good news for keeping crowds in check.

Early voting also acts as an insurance

policy. If something unexpectedly goes

wrong on Election Day—your car breaks

down, the weather takes a turn—you’ve

already banked your ballot.

But there can be hitches. Poll workers

may still be getting used to the process

during early

voting, so polls

may not run as

smoothly. Some

states, including

battlegrounds like

Georgia and Florida,

have seen long lines form outside polling

places in the initial days of early voting,

with some voters reporting waits of up to

11 hours. Experts recommend monitor-

ing your local polling site and heading in

when the lines are short or the parking lot

looks sparse. If you plan to drive to your

polling place, the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) recom-

mends waiting in your car until the line

is shorter to help reduce the spread of

infection.

Voting on Election Day is hardly off

the table. If you’re on the fence, waiting

until the last moment gives you time

to make up your mind. Or if you just

enjoy the tradition of voting on the fi rst

Tuesday in November, that’s fi ne too.

—ABIGAIL ABRAMS

CAN I STILL

VOTE IF MY

REGISTRATION

IS ‘INACTIVE’?

A: Your registration

becomes inactive if you

haven’t voted in two

consecutive federal elec-

tions and haven’t replied

to requests verifying your

address. But most states

make it pretty easy to

re-up at a polling place—

so long as you bring valid

ID and, in some places,

proof of your address.

ÑSanya Mansoor

Tens of millions of Americans are trying to fi gure out how to cast a ballot in the

middle of a pandemic. Here’s what to know about exercising your right

YOUR VOTING QUESTIONS

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MOLLY JACQUES FOR TIME