Mail-in Voting: Know the rules…get it done

Image: An "I Voted at Home" sticker on a college student's
Deadpool-themed collegiate letterman-style jacket

I’m writing this last-minute emergency blog just before Election Day 2024 because I know a lot of college kids and their parents are freaking out right now trying to get ballots mailed in. As of this posting, we only have one week left before Election Day on November 5, 2024, so let’s get all those out-of-state college students (and any other mail-in voters!) informed and voting TODAY!

Lots of voters, including President Barack Obama, love mail-in voting for ease and convenience. Like I mentioned in my earlier blog, Six Reasons to Vote Early, it can free you up on Election Day to fulfill work/travel requirements or volunteer with election activities. It might reduce your anxiety as well, but only if you know the rules and get your ballot mailed on-time!

First off, know that this blog is for readers around the U.S., so visit your state election website for specific rules for your state. Or, go to the www.vote411.org website by the League of Women Voters. Click on your state on the US map and it will bring you to a link where you can find voter information.

The sections below will help you with the biggest considerations, but the best piece of advice I have is to visit your state info site and mail in that ballot as quickly as possible. You don’t want your voice to be silenced because of weather or processing delays!

Eligibility deadlines

Image: A college student with dyed red hair
filling out a mail-in ballot at a diner

Your state has a deadline for requesting the mail-in ballot, whether you request it online or have a relative request it for you. In Missouri, it was the second Wednesday before election day, which was weeks ago. If you’ve passed the deadline, you’ll have to vote in person. If not, continue reading!

Mailing Deadlines

Make sure you know when the deadline is to get that ballot to the election office! You can drop it in a regular U.S. mailbox, but if you are super close to the deadline, you could use an overnight mail service even though that’s very expensive.

In Missouri, voted absentee ballots must be received at the election office by 7:00 PM on Election Day. They may be returned by mailing service, in-person or close relative, or curbside service.

Notaries and how to find them

You may not need a notary public at all, but if you’re from a state like mine, you need one ASAP!

What is a notary?

A notary is an official recognized by your state who witnesses and validates the signing of important documents. Most people know about them if they’ve had to sign deeds, trusts, or important bills of sales. Notaries ensure signers are who they say they are at the time of signing. They will look at your photo ID (state ID, driver’s licence, passport, military ID, etc.), have you sign the ballot, then date and stamp the ballot. DO NOT SIGN YOUR BALLOT BEFORE GOING TO THE NOTARY. The whole point is that they witness you signing it!

Where can you find a notary?

Image: A masked student in glasses
holding a mail-in ballot in front of
book shelving at a library

Common places to find notaries near college campuses are public libraries, banks, and UPS stores. (UPS stores are independently owned, so not all of them have notaries. You should call and ask.) You usually have to make an appointment, but not always. If you can’t find one, ask a librarian or someone in the school’s bursar’s office. The bursar’s office is in charge of all the student accounts, financial aid, and compliance, so I bet they’re interested in making sure students sign legal documents correctly.

How much will a notary cost?

Image: A blank ballot held in front of a
BaltimoreCounty Public Library sign
saying, "$3 per signature"

It often costs between $3-15 to have a ballot notarized. The cost can vary even between places in the same town. The UPS store where we took our freshman in Boulder was $15. My college junior paid $3 at a Baltimore public library. Political writer and college student, Gabe Fleischer of “Wake Up to Politics” paid $5 at a UPS store around Washington D.C. In Missouri, ballot notification is required by the state to be free of charge, but not every UPS store seems to know that, so definitely call ahead to avoid an argument.

If you are lucky and can find a notary not affiliated with a business, you can avoid a charge. Some activists I know took the step to become a notary specifically to help people with voting and notarize election petition signatures. 

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get this done as soon as you can. My Baltimore kiddo told me that appointments for all notaries their campus are booked up until the election. They texted me this anecdote:

Image: A masked student about to mail
their ballot in a U.S. Mailbox

“The person in the background of my selfie is a Pennsylvania absentee voter turning in her ballot, and some of her friends still haven’t gotten their ballots! So a group of them are giving up on the absentee process entirely and are doing a 4 hour round trip to drive to Philadelphia from Baltimore on Election Day itself.”

Proof of receipt

Your state likely has a way to notify you when they process your ballot. Sadly, Missouri, Illinois, Mississippi, and Wyoming do not have state-wide on-line ballot tracking. It is possible that your county might have it, so if you see a website or a QR code on your ballot you can check there. (ex. Missouri doesn't track it as a state, but St. Louis County tracks ballots) If you’re not in those states, you can track your ballot at https://www.vote.org/ballot-tracker-tools/ .

Some states even proactively contact voters. One of my family members let me know, “Dropped my San Francisco, CA ballot in a mailbox yesterday. Got an email today that it’s been received & counted! Checkmark, done!” Well done, San Francisco. That’s an amazing turnaround!

Image: "Keep Calm & Ask Mom" meme
image from MomsRising.org/Vote

I hope this post is helpful in this late stage of the election season. Please share it with anyone who needs this information. Students, don’t be embarrassed if you’re confused. It IS confusing to be a first-time voter at college, surrounded by a bunch of other first-time voters from other states who have different rules. 

Use your resources to do this important task that will help shape your future. Ask your parents, older students, or maybe even your former U.S. government teacher for help. 

(Hi, Dr. Smith) Chances are that they want you to vote and would love to help you!

Image: Book cover

Buy an autographed copy of "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started" at my website www.changyit.com or order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any independent bookstore!

What should you bring to the polls?

Image: Cindy smiling with sunglasses and an "I Voted" sticker

It’s voting time and lots of people are headed to actual, physical voting booths! I think early voting (mail-in or in-person) is the best voting for all the reasons I wrote in my last post, “Six Reasons to Vote Early.” But whether you’re voting early or on actual Election Day (November 5, 2024), let’s run through a quick checklist of things you should bring to the polls with you if you're voting in person.

Your ID

Rules may vary by state, so make sure you look up what you can use in your state. If you don’t have a driver’s license, I suggest bringing two forms just in case you run into any trouble. In my state of Missouri, you can use:

• A non-expired Missouri driver license;

• A non-expired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;

• A non-expired United States passport; or

• Another photo ID issued by the United States or Missouri which is either not expired or expired after the most recent general election.

If you don’t have any of those with you, you can cast a “provisional ballot” and you’ll get instructions on how to verify that they count your provisional ballot.

Check ahead of time with your state to see exactly what you'll need.

Your completed sample ballot

Our Missouri ballot is so long this time that would be hard to keep all my choices in my head. Research your choices ahead of time and bring in your sample ballot all filled out, so that you can keep that voting line moving! The League of Women Voters' voter info site at vote411.org can help you find out what's on your ballot if you didn't receive a sample in the mail.

Your patience

Image: Cindy wearing a "Dear person behind me" hoodie
beside a sign that says "polling place."

Even in early voting, lines are pretty long this year, especially around lunchtime when working folks hope to squeeze in. You might bring some water and a snack to help you be patient if you're skipping a meal to vote!

I voted at a library and picked up a graphic novel to pass the time. I also wore a calming sweatshirt to soothe the people behind me. It read, “Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it. love, the person in front of you.” It worked! They tapped me on the shoulder before I entered the room to tell me they liked it and took a picture.

Your values

Image: An image of Presiding Bishop Curry of the Episcopal
Church with his quote, "The principle on which Christians must
vote is the principle: 'Does this look like love of neighbor?'"

If you're of voting age, you have had plenty of time to develop some values you live by even if you don't think about them a lot.

If you live your life with a code of kindness to others, respecting the constitution, feeding the hungry, caring for elders, protecting children, welcoming the stranger, and loving your neighbor, think about what your personal code specifically means for the issues in front of us which candidates will best reflect those values.

Image: A meme encouraging us to vote as if we have
personal stakes in issues "because privilege has no
place in an election, but empathy does."

For instance, when I fill out my ballot, I consider…who will help protect children from gun violence? Who will preserve the Earth for our children? Who will increase the Child Tax Credit and SNAP (food stamps) benefits? Who will be fair and just toward immigrants? Who will provide reproductive healthcare to pregnant people if they need an abortion for physical and mental well-being? Who sees LGBTQ rights as human rights? Who will protect funding for global health? Who understands that Black lives matter? Who will help bring peace to nations instead of funding war?

A mask

I know, I know. People don’t like masking, but voting lines are no longer spaced out and these places are getting crowded! Not only is COVID-19 making a comeback in my area, but it's cold and flu season. I felt lucky I found a spare mask in my backpack because I didn’t anticipate being packed in with so many people.

Your phone/camera

Take a selfie, post it on social media, and send it to friends and family asking them to vote, too. It’s totally legal to use peer pressure to get your people to the polls.

Your friends and/or family

Image: Cindy and daughter sitting in the car
wearing "I Voted" stickers

Speaking of your friends and family, why not bring them with you? It helps with boredom and makes sure they get their vote counted, too. If you're a parent of minors, consider bringing your kids, so they can see what voting is like. Be a voter and raise a voter!

There you go! Double-check that you have all you need with you, especially that ID because it’s disappointing to be turned away at the polls only to wait in a longer line later. Good luck and thank you for being a voter!

Image: Book cover

Buy an autographed copy of "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started" at my website www.changyit.com or order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any independent bookstore!

Six Reasons to Vote Early

Image: Cindy standing beside an Absentee Voting sign and American flag
at her polling place while pointing at her "I Voted" sticker.

Early voting starts today in my state of Missouri and I cast my ballot today before lunchtime. Hooray! Many states are already voting, including Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, and Washington…did I forget anyone? In honor of this day, I offer six reasons voting early is an awesome idea.

Please vote early if you can and share this with others, so they can join the 18 million Americans who have already voted. Don’t look at November 5 as election day. Think of it as the LAST possible day you can vote.

Here are my six favorite reasons to vote early, illustrated with pictures of pumpkins...

#1 Allows Convenience

Image: Cindy with a tiny, convenient-sized
pumpkin in her hand by a red bush

You know your schedule best and early voting lets you choose the optimal time for you to vote. If you run in to trouble, you have time to clear it up and try again. Kathy Kale Nelson of Brainerd, MN says, “I vote early because I’m almost always travelling for work.” Mary Fitzgerald of St. Louis, MO told me she plans to take her kid to vote for the first time, so she wants to vote early to experience a shorter line.

In St. Louis, we can vote early for with no excuse needed two weeks before Election Day at any of 14 different locations around town. Ten of them are libraries. I voted at my local branch, so I could return my overdue books and get something fun to read while waiting in line. Super convenient!

#2 Reduces Anxiety

Image: A pumpkin with a
worried face

Doom scrolling and obsessive poll checking won’t decrease anxiety in the same way that turning in your ballot will. Life is hard enough, isn’t it? Give yourself the gift of feeling that sense of finality.

#3 Prevents Life from Getting in the Way

Image: A pumpkin carved with an 
upset face

Sometimes just making a plan to vote on Election Day isn't enough. Illness, an accident, bad weather, car-trouble, or other inconveniences can keep you from the polls. 

Michele Prasbrig of St. Louis told me she’s voted early in every election since she missed voting 10 years ago because she needed to take her injured pre-schooler to the pediatric emergency room! She had campaigned for a friend running for school board and looked forward to casting her ballot. Yet instead of voting at 5PM after her husband got home from work, she sat for hours and hours at the hospital with her child. Fortunately, everything turned out okay. But she told me, 

“When I was driving home from the ER and my kid was fine, when I realized it was 7:30PM and too late to vote, it was a punch in the stomach because I’d missed out on voting and I’d also missed out on voting for my friend.”

 Ever since then, Michele’s been an early voter.

#4 Guarantees Your Vote Gets Counted

Image: Cindy with a wagon full
of pumpkins to be counted and
paid for at Theis Farm

Voting early is the best way to make sure your vote gets counted, in case of problems with the mail or challenges on election day. Especially in swing states during presidential elections, day-of ballots and last-minute mail-in ballots are under extra scrutiny. Plus, sometimes disruptors seek to invalidate ballots or discourage people from voting. Early voting side-steps that circus of confusion.

#5 Frees You to Help Others on Election Day

Image: Cindy consulting with her 
daughter about a lit Jack-o-lantern

If don’t have to work or go to class for at least part of Election Day, volunteering is a great way to give an extra boost to your candidates and causes. Drive your family or neighbors to the polls and answer their questions about ballot choices (easier if you've gone through your research already and seen how they're presented on the ballot). Contact the local office of your favored political party to see if you can help on Election Day with:

• Driving voters to polls

• Putting up candidate signs at polling places

• Poll greeting (handing out candidate literature at polling places)

• Phonebanking

• Door-to-door Canvassing

If you can spare a few hours to phonebank, I HIGHLY recommend signing up for a shift with the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led climate campaign. Their phonebanks are computer-based, well-run, well-scripted, and use an automated dialer so that you’ll never get a hangup or talk to an answering machine. They have two shifts on Election Day and more even earlier!

#6 Lets Organizations Know They Can Leave You Alone

Image: A pumpkin with "VOTE"
carved in it sitting in an office

As an advocacy organizer, I love this reason that was told to me by an organizer in Kansas City, MO. When you vote early, campaigns no longer need to bother you about getting you to the polls. They don't know who you voted for, but they DO know when you voted. That allows them to target money and resources towards voters who are not as likely to vote.

It may not totally stop those annoying phone calls and texts, but it will minimize them. Good for them and good for you. Who wouldn't want that?

There you go! If I’ve convinced you to vote early, go to the www.vote411.org website by the League of Women Voters. Click on your state on the US map and it will bring you to a link where you can find voter information, including early voter information. Please share this blog and early voting information with others, so that they can get on the record with their choices, too!

Image: Book cover

Buy an autographed copy of "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started" at my website www.changyit.com or order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any independent bookstore!