Voting in 2020
Voting is fundamental to the strength of our democracy and guarantees citizens a say in who represents them. Pertinent to Sociology; Social Justice and Social Policy; and Peace, Conflict, and Coexistence Studies, voting allows students to vote on behalf of social justice issues affecting our country today. To encourage high Brandeis student voter turnout, the Undergraduate Departmental Representatives (UDRs) have compiled a comprehensive guide on how to register to vote and cast a vote in the upcoming 2020 elections: the September 1 Massachusetts primaries and the November 3 general elections.
Whether you plan on voting in-person or by mail, we encourage everyone to review this guide to understand voting deadlines, formulate their plan to vote, and take action.
All the resources to register to vote and apply for a ballot are provided.
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Please note that if you recently registered,
this website may not be up-to-date.
Register now.
For Massachusetts residents with a Massachusetts State ID, you can also register online through this Massachusetts-specific online portal.
Register now.
You may update your registration by filling out a new voter registration form.
For Massachusetts voters, there are two elections coming up: the Massachusetts primaries and the November general election.
The Massachusetts primary is taking place on September 1, 2020. In this election, Massachusetts has a semi-closed primary system. This means voters previously unaffiliated with a party may participate in the primary for the party of their choice. However, voters who are already affiliated with a political party can vote only in that party’s primary. The 2020 general election occurs on November 3, 2020.
Massachusetts has mail-in/ absentee voting for any voter who cannot or chooses not to vote in-person for the September 1 primary and/or the November 3 general election. Especially amid COVID-19, mail-in/absentee voting reduces crowds at the polls and ensures the safety of voters.
Massachusetts voters can apply for an absentee/ mail-in ballot through this website. On this website, you can download the absentee/mail-in voting form to fill out and mail to your town’s polling place.
For voters not registered in Massachusetts, you can apply for an absentee ballot
here. You can also look up your state’s mail-in/absentee voting policy on your state’s Attorney General’s website.
Individuals are still allowed to vote in-person if they choose. The polls are open from 7am to 8pm on Election Day. Students registered to vote with their Brandeis University address vote in Ward 7 at Banks School Basement on 948 Main Street in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Early voting is also an option for those who wish to vote in-person before Election Day.
Yes, there are several deadlines for voter registration and mail-in voting. Please note that these deadlines vary per state. For Massachusetts, the deadlines are as follows:
To vote in the primary election on September 1, 2020, you must be registered to vote by August 22, 2020. An absentee ballot must be requested by August 26, 2020 at 12pm and returned by September 1, 2020 at 8pm. Early voting for the primary election occurs from August 22, 2020 to August 28, 2020.
To vote in the general election on November 3, 2020, you must be registered to vote by October 24, 2020. An absentee ballot must be requested by October 28, 2020 at 12pm and returned by November 3, 2020 at 8pm. Early voting for the general election occurs from October 17, 2020 to October 30, 2020.
For voters in all states,
Ballotpedia provides thorough information on each state’s voting laws and deadlines. All voter registration deadlines per state can also be accessed
here.
Individuals can also sign up for election reminders here. Closer to Election Day, you can find who is on the ballot in your district here.
Tell your friends to vote! Feel free to forward this email to several friends and peers. Proactively check-in with friends on whether they have a plan to vote.
If you have any more questions regarding voter registration or polling, please email Sociology UDR Ali Hagani at alisonhagani@brandeis.edu.