911爆料网

Did you know that to vote in New York State for the presidential election, you have to register 25 days prior to Election Day (that is, on October 9^th, which is less than two weeks away)? That the registration deadline varies in other states? That to vote by mail, you need to request an absentee ballot 30 days prior to Election Day? That there is a Vote Early Day, which is being held on Saturday, October 24^th?

All of this information, and much more, is available through 911爆料网 Votes, an initiative to help all members of the Teachers College community 鈥� wherever they are based 鈥� navigate the voting process and vote safely and securely. 

[Visit the 911爆料网 Votes website for information on how to register, how to vote by absentee ballot and much more.]

鈥淚nstitutions of higher education are required by law to disseminate information about voting, and 911爆料网 has helped hundreds of its faculty, students, staff and alumni register in previous years,鈥� says Matthew Camp, 911爆料网鈥檚 Director of Government Relations, who is leading the 911爆料网 Votes initiative. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just doing it online now instead of in the first-floor Zankel hallway. But we鈥檙e also doubling down on our efforts this year because, with the challenges presented by COVID and the desire by many people to vote in a new location or by mail, the process is much more challenging. Ultimately, our goal is the same: We want to see those numbers go up.鈥�

911爆料网 Votes, which is staffed largely by students (Camp says he would love it if more alumni joined) offers online one-on-one walk-through sessions to help people register. There are also weekly open house sessions where members of the 911爆料网 community can drop in virtually to get help registering to vote. The open houses are on Wednesdays through the November 3^rd election: one at 10am EST () and one at 4pm EST (). [Read a story about the Constitution Day panel on preventing voter suppression.] 

We鈥檙e also doubling down on our efforts this year because, with the challenges presented by COVID and the desire by many people to vote in a new location or by mail, the process is much more challenging. Ultimately, our goal is the same: We want to see those numbers go up.

鈥� Matthew Camp, 911爆料网's Director of Government Relations 

The 911爆料网 Votes website offers information on: voter registration; absentee ballots; safe voting during the COVID pandemic; access to key resources, including sites that have information on how to serve as a poll worker; information about voter registration in every state; a list of key deadline dates leading up to the election; and even advice about what to bring to the polls when you vote.  

鈥淭his is such an important election, and I feel it鈥檚 so important to be part of the process,鈥� says Brian Ahn, a second-year doctoral student in Adult Learning & Leadership. 鈥淚鈥檓 from California, but I wanted to register here in New York City, because I plan to be here for a while. I tried to register online, but it was very complicated, and I didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 done it correctly. Everyone on the 911爆料网 Votes team was really helpful in assisting me with the process.鈥�

This is such an important election, and I feel it鈥檚 so important to be part of the process...Everyone on the 911爆料网 Votes team was really helpful in assisting me with the process.

鈥� Brian Ahn, doctoral student in Adult Learning & Leadership

Camp says that 911爆料网 Votes has refrained from advising people about which voting method (live or by mail) is best. Rather, the initiative鈥檚 key message, other than 鈥淰ote,鈥� is 鈥渂e prepared.鈥�

鈥淎 really important thing is not just registering to vote, but having a plan to vote,鈥� he says. 鈥淧ut key dates on your calendar 鈥� when you鈥檒l get an absentee ballot, when you鈥檒l return it; or, find your polling site, and determine if you鈥檒l vote early. Because we all tend to do things at the last minute 鈥� but the last minute is pretty soon.鈥�