Voting is important, and there’s a lot going on with the elections we need to know about. Introducing our #ElectionTips2020 - Kim will explain important things to know about the voting process, the differences between certain voting methods and more. more information is available at @signvote’s post from today! #CripTheVote

[TRANSCRIPT & DESC: NAD logo at the bottom right corner. Black background with a blue/gray ribbon slides in with black text “HOUSE REPS & SENATE?” and disappears. Another blue/gray ribbon slides in with black text “ELECTORAL COLLEGE?” and disappears. Another blue/gray ribbon slides in with black text “NATIONAL PARTIES?” and disappears. Another blue/gray ribbon slides in with black text “MAIN IN / ABSENTEE / ALL-MAIL?” and disappears. Another blue/gray ribbon slides in with black text “STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING?” and disappears. White “MAIL IN & ABSENTEE & ALL-MAIL BALLOTS” and bright blue “?” appear on the screen then Kim appears.

KIM: How do we vote? Some states are doing in-person voting, some are requiring masks and some are allowing for absentee/mail in balloting. Due to coronavirus, voting may look very different this year.

Registered voters in some states don’t have to request a mail-in ballot, they’ll automatically receive one in the mail several weeks ahead of the election and they can send it back. This is called "all-mail ballots."

The other states will either have voters come in to vote or mail an absentee ballot to certain voters who request one. This means you don’t go to vote in person, a ballot will be mailed to you. Absentee ballots and mail-in ballots are really the same thing you request your ballot individually in advance while automatic all-mail ballots are different. You need to know what your options are in your state. In two-thirds of the states, any qualified voter may vote absentee without offering an excuse, and in one-third of the states, an excuse is required (such as the military or temporary relocation for work).

Many states now count fear of coronavirus as an absentee excuse but in some states, in-person voting remains the only option. You need to know your options in your state.
If you plan to vote by mail, be prepared to mail the ballot back or drop it off in a secure ballot drop off box if it is available in your state. It is important to request the ballot by the deadline and give it time to be mailed back. Most states will look at the postmarked date of your mail in ballot, the date can vary by states, but usually prior to Nov. 3 or on the day of. Some states will not accept ballots received after Nov. 3. The earlier the better.

If you're not sure what the situation is for your state - contact our ASL Voter Hotline.

Black background with bright blue “GO” and white “VOTE”. Video cuts to a dark blue background. Red alphabet letters of “N-A-D” in American Sign Language appear one by one in the center of the video. The copyright text appears in white underneath, “National Association of the Deaf, Copyright 2020, All Rights Reserved”.]