Some states were already on track to expand by-mail voting before the COVID-19 pandemic began, while others have adjusted their policies around absentee voting to accommodate voters who wish to avoid in-person polling places on Election Day.

Depends on the state! Here’s a comprehensive list of election deadlines from our friends at Rock The Vote.

Totally understandable, we’re in a nationwide pandemic. Unless you live in IN, TN, SC, LA, MS, or TX, you have the opportunity to vote by mail. Head here to request a ballot in your state, some states even sent you a ballot in the mail (make sure to check your mail).

If you happen to live in a state that isn’t making voting accessible, we recommend attending the polls with a face shield, mask, gloves, your own pen, and sanitizer. We recommend voting early so you avoid long lines at polling centers.

For some folks, if you’re immunocompromised or truly unable to attend the polls, you may be able to request a ballot. We recommend reaching out to an election official if you need more information about voting in a state that has limited voter accessibility.

Both voting in person and voting by mail have a long history of trustworthiness in the US.

Voter Fraud is Extremely Rare Across Voting Methods
Each voter’s identity and eligibility to vote are verified before their ballot is counted. Oregon, the first state to adopt a vote by mail system, has averaged fewer than one case of fraud per year for two decades (source: Heritage Foundation). Claims of voter fraud are investigated by authorities and can result in criminal charges.

History and Expansion of Voting by Mail
Americans have been voting by mail since the Civil War, when President Abraham Lincoln wanted to give soldiers a way to vote from the battlefield. US troops overseas routinely vote by mail, and several states now hold their elections almost entirely by mail.

Mail Ballots are Resistant to Fraud
Mail ballots require extra steps for validation after they’re returned by the voter, such as signature matching and ballot tracking. Once validated, the ballot is separated from its envelope and sorted for counting. Mail ballots that meet eligibility and validity requirements are counted in every election.

Verification at the Polling Location
Poll books at in-person voting sites say which voters have already received mail ballots. If there are any issues or irregularities, voters are usually offered a provisional ballot that requires additional verification. If a voter submits more than one mail ballot or tries to vote in person after already voting by mail, only one ballot will be counted.

Source: Bipartisan Policy Center

The voter registration age requirement varies by state, but most states allow individuals who will be 18 by the next election to register to vote. Some states do have a minimum age requirement to register to vote (for example you may have to be 17 ½ years of age). Check out the Rock the Vote Election Center for the voter registration eligibility requirements in your state. People over 18 are making decisions that affect the lives of students around the country. We MUST vote for candidates that value human lives over NRA donations.

Voter registration deadlines vary by state. Check out the Rock the Vote Election Center for information for the voter registration deadlines in your state. If you’re too young or missed registering for this election, don’t just sit it out! Get people you know to vote on November 3, and make sure you’re registered today for the next one.

It depends. Most states require some form of identification either when you register and/or when you vote. The rules vary state by state. As part of your plan to vote, check out your state rules at the Rock the Vote Election Center and make sure you bring what you need to vote.

This year we asked candidates a few questions on gun violence. You can download our voter guides for different states here. We’re a non-partisan group that believes in common-sense gun violence reforms and smart policies over candidates and parties. We recommend you research the candidates before you go vote. Most states will let you look up your ballot for you before you show up at the polls.

YES! You have the right to register to vote at your school address – this includes a dorm room. Any student living in a dorm is entitled to the same rights as any other student. To imply otherwise is illegal. Seriously – always look up the official laws, don’t let anyone convince you otherwise with misinformation. If you receive mail in a Post Office box you can sign an affidavit (or, in some cases, get a letter from your college’s Residential Life office) asserting that you live at your dorm address. For more info, check out Rock The Vote’s Election Center.

Wear that sticker like a dang badge of honor. Make sure everyone around you who can vote, does vote. Know that your vote matters and that we thank you with everything we got. Our hope is that so many people show up, not just in this election but the next one and the one after that, that together we elect morally just leaders, and gun violence in America ends, working ourselves out of a job.

There are so many actions you can take now! March For Our Lives was founding members included a bunch of students under 18, and continues to include leaders who are as young as freshman in high school. Here are a few actions to take:

• If there are people in your household who are eligible to vote, make sure to send them this webpage and remind them to make their voting plan. Ask them if they have a ride to vote, if they’ve checked their registration, and if they know their polling place!
• If you’re not able to vote but able to drive, we know it’s a pandemic, but if your friends need a ride to the polls you may want to offer your car! Hop in, put on a great playlist, open the windows, wear a mask, and get them to the polls.
• Text your friends who are 18 and let them know it’s time to get registered to vote and make a voting plan!
• Join March For Our Lives, and join our chapter network to take action in your community! Voting isn’t the only way to change our nation, it’s only one tool we use to enact change.

March For Our Lives has not and does not have plans to endorse any candidate for elected office.

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that remains focused on our core mission to harness the power of young people across the country to fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies that save lives. Funds raised by our organization are spent to that end and are not used to support any candidate or political party.

We are delighted that some of our members and founders have chosen to participate in the political process – in their personal capacity – and encourage young people everywhere to evaluate the candidates for themselves. On November 3, 2020, it is our hope that voters will select those candidates committed to sensible reforms to the nation’s gun laws and work to dramatically reduce the nearly 40,000 gun deaths that occur each year in the United States.

Learn more here.

Yes! You’ll need to provide an address when you register to vote – this is used to assign your voting districts and to send any election mail. Homeless registrants can list a shelter address, or can include the address where they sleep most often, like a street corner or park address. Learn more about voting and homelessness from Nonprofit Vote.

If you were convicted of a felony, your voting rights may vary from state to state. Learn more here.

We’re sorry we didn’t provide you with the answer you needed! You can find more information from our friends at Rock The Vote.