The question of how to vote if you cannot be present at your polling station on Election Day is especially important for truck drivers. After all, they are often on the road and cannot physically attend the event. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of possible alternative voting methods.
1. Absentee and Mail Voting
In 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the voting procedure was greatly facilitated for the Americans. So, they can do it in absentia by mail. At the same time, this method is one of the most convenient for truckers who cannot be present at the polling station on Election Day. Keep in mind, however, that absentee voting rules may differ from state to state. To do this, go to the National Association of Secretaries of State website to select your state and check local absentee voting requirements. You can also contact your local electoral authorities for details of participation in absentee voting. Please note that you may be required to submit a valid reason for absentee voting. Often one of these reasons is a business trip outside your county or city of residence on Election Day. The excuses to vote absentee may vary from state to state. It is also important to make sure that you know how to send your ballot back after filling out. In addition to regular mail, some states have special dropboxes. Many also allow the ballot to be brought in person to the local electoral bureau.
2. Early Voting
Sometimes circumstances do not allow voting even in absentia on election day. In this case, you can use early voting. Its advantage is that you do not need an excuse to vote early. However, the disadvantage of this method is the fact that different states have different dates for the event. For example, the start date for early voting can be 45 days before the election or no later than the Friday before the election. So if you want to vote in advance, make sure your state’s dates still allow it. You can also clarify this by contacting the electoral bureau. In addition, you can find a place where early voting takes place, depending on your address.
3. Provisional Ballots
Another possible way to vote for truck drivers who cannot be present at their polling station on Election Day is provisional ballots. But still, it depends on the state. In general, provisional ballots ensure that voters are not excluded from the voting process due to an administrative error, such as not being included in the voter lists. In addition, in some places, provisional ballots may be used by voters who vote outside of their jurisdiction. However, the law of each state already regulates whether or not these ballots will be counted in the final vote count.
Before the Elections: Check your Registration
There is another important point regarding elections. Do not forget to double-check whether you are registered — it is better to do it in a few days. This can be done on an appropriate website. Please be aware that the registration deadline may vary from state to state. If you find that you are not registered, there may be an administrative error that is not too late to fix. Contact the electoral bureau to clarify the details and correct the situation. Taking part in elections is our responsibility, which we must fulfill.
