Flex Your Voice on Election Day, November 3, 2020
Here at Chicago Devotion, we are dedicated to using our best efforts to bring you hard-to-find information and resources that empower you to achieve your American Dream. Your vote counts, and we are here to make sure you are informed because Knowledge is Power.
Election Day is here! So, what do you do? Where do you go to vote? Where do you even start to figure out who / what to vote for?
First Things First: Arm Yourself with Knowledge
The dedicated journalists and editorial staff at the Chicago Tribune have compiled an absolutely amazing Voters Guide for Election Day and beyond with all the details on the local, state, and federal candidates and what they stand for, the local- and state-level propositions that will affect your daily lives, and where to cast your ballot. You can find that page here.
In addition, WGN’s News Nation has an extremely thorough guide here.
Casting Your Vote
In Illinois, most polls close at 7:00 P.M. on November 3, 2020, so you still have time to vote. But, please remember that we are still fighting the Coronavirus, so please wear your mask to protect yourself and others, and follow social distancing guidelines by staying at least six feet away from other people, and please wash your hands thoroughly and use hand sanitizer where available.
The Center for Disease Control has some great information on how to best keep yourself safe on Election Day while protecting your fellow Illinoisans and Chicagoans too.
Need to find your local election polling place to cast your vote in person? The Chicago Election Board of Commissioners has got you! Head on over to their handy election polling location page and enter your address to find your voting location – and get there as early as you can.
Already filled out your mail-in ballot and need to find a place to drop it off ASAP?!? Great! The Chicago Tribune has you covered with this handy mail-in ballot drop-off location map.
Did you get a mail-in ballot but decided not to mail it in and instead want to vote in-person at a polling location Election Day? You can do that! BUT, you must bring your mail-in ballot with you to your election precinct polling place and surrender it to an election judge. You will then receive a standard ballot and can vote in-person.
You voted already? Awesome! There’s a lot of misinformation out there about when and how votes should be counted. It’s important to know what the law says and how this year is different from other election years. With the Coronavirus still spreading, precautions for mail-in balloting, drive-through balloting, and extended early voting schedules have had to be implemented to keep everyone safe. Unfortunately, this means it will take longer to count all your votes (and EVERY SINGLE VOTE is important), so we might not know the results of this election for a few days or longer.
This is okay. America is not some kind of weird reality show (I think…) where the finale has to air on Election Day or we lose Nielsen ratings. We’re talking about peoples’ lives here. And, on that note, there are real people working hard to count each and every vote, in many cases by hand.
So, know that any delays mean your vote is being carefully counted so no votes are left behind.
Okay, We Voted. What Now?
As we discussed, misinformation is rampant. Knowledge is Power, and some of these carefully-researched resources will arm you with the truth:
No, voter fraud is not a problem and is virtually non-existent.
What to Expect on Election Day and Beyond.
What is the Electoral College and How Does It Work?
And stay informed on your vote and your future by following the results with News Nation’s helpful 2020 Election Results Page!
Thank you for voting. Thank you for raising your voice. Your vote matters. Your voice matters. We hope it grows stronger because Knowledge is Power, and you are powerful. Stay Safe out there, Illinois. #AmericaStrong
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