As of today, Election Day is JUST 49 DAYS AWAY: on Tuesday, November 3rd! HPPR wants to be sure that our listeners keep this date on the forefront of their minds, as voting this year might feel a little bit different than in elections past.
Today, I spoke with a real, live High Plains election official from Potter County in Amarillo! Thanks so much to Melynnn Huntley for stopping by the studio (in her mask) to share: tips about how to make your participation go smoothly, reminders about polling place etiquette, features of this year’s election (ahem, curbside voting!), and much encouragement about the safety and security of those in charge of securing our country’s democracy.
See below for the link to our full interview, and please spread the word! I’ve included some at-a-glance dates for all five states of HPPR’s listener region.
A top takeaway: be sure to double check your voter registration status to make sure everything is accurate – and if you're not registered, get started on that process ASAP!
So spread the word on early voting information and deadlines for voter registration, mail-in ballots, and absentee ballots, as some of those dates are fast approaching…and early voting will begin in a few weeks in many places!
If you’re in Potter County and have questions, feel free to reach out to Melynn through email or give her a call at 806.379.2299
Oh, and here' s a story from NPR that just posted today about voting!
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How do I know if I’m registered?
--Remember: your local election board’s website will have most up-to-date and accurate information!
***Check your voter registration by clicking on your state of residence!
---In order to register, you must fill out an Oklahoma Voter Registration Application. Download it here or pick one up at your local tag office.
---Here’s a PDF of contact information for EVERY Oklahoma county election board!
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Check out information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about “Considerations for Election Polling Locations and Voters.”
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STAFFING FOR POLLING PLACES
AMARILLO residents: Interested in staffing local polling sites? (Note: It’s a paid position!)
Click here for more info about Potter County.
Click here to take the "Poll Worker Survey" for Randall County.
OTHER AREAS: Check with your local election board for more info.
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MAIL-IN BALLOTS and EARLY VOTING: Here’s some info for all five states of the HPPR listener region
COLORADO
Colorado has all mail-in voting.
---Early voting for Military and Overseas voters: September 18
---Counties will begin mailing ballots: October 9
--- Deadline to register OR update your registration and still receive a ballot in the mail: October 26
***In Colorado, you can register to vote and vote in person up to 7 PM on Election Day.
---Click here for the full election and campaign finance calendar.
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KANSAS
Early in-person voting begins: Up to 20 days before the election.
---Varies by county. Voters should contact their county elections office for additional information.
Early in-person voting ends: Up to the day before the election.
---Varies by county. Voters should contact their county elections office for additional information.
Info about KS absentee ballots:
Any registered Kansas voter may apply for an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
***You must provide your current Kansas driver's license number on your absentee ballot application. If you can't, then you'll need to include a photocopy of another photo ID.
- Drivers license or nondrivers ID card issued by Kansas or another state
- U.S. passport
- Concealed carry of handgun license issued by Kansas or another state
- Employee badge or ID document issued by a government office
- U.S. military ID
- Student ID card issued by an accredited Kansas postsecondary educational institution
- Public assistance ID card issued by a government office
- An ID card issued by an Indian tribe
- State Voter ID
Deadlines
In Person: Received 7 days before Election Day.
By Mail: Received 7 days before Election Day.
***Voted ballots are due: Postmarked by Election Day and received 3 days after Election Day.
Application for absentee ballot:
https://www.kssos.org/forms/elections/AV1.pdf
More about KS absentee ballots:
https://www.vote.org/absentee-ballot/kansas/
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NEBRASKA
Early in-person voting begins: 30 days before the election.
Early in-person voting ends: 1 day before the election.
Info about NE early-voting (absentee) ballots:
--Nebraska is a “no-excuse” state, meaning any registered voter may request an early-voting (absentee) ballot, and is not required to provide a reason.
--All early-voting ballots -- whether delivered in person, by mail or by other carrier -- must arrive by the close of polls on the day of the election.
--You can apply for an early-voting (absentee) ballot by contacting your county election office in person, by mail or by fax. You can also print an online early-voting (absentee) application, complete the form, and then mail, fax or scan/take a picture of your application and email it to your county election office.
--The last day for an early-voting (absentee) application to be received is 6 p.m. on the second Friday preceding the election: so that’s Oct. 23rd.
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OKLAHOMA
Early in-person voting begins: 5 days before the election.
Early in-person voting ends: 2pm, 3 days before the election.
Info about OK absentee ballots:
Any registered voter in Oklahoma may vote by absentee ballot. It is not necessary to give a reason for voting absentee.
More about OK absentee ballots + the application link.
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TEXAS
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE or CHANGE ADDRESS: 10/5
Early in-person voting begins: 10/13 (day after Columbus Day)
Early in-person voting ends: 10/30
You can apply for a ballot by mail:
***To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must be:
--65 years or older;
--Disabled à COVID fear doesn’t qualify, HOWEVER: if you have a preexisting condition, that WILL be considered. (Conditions can include: immunosuppressed, asthma, predisposition for respiratory infection, COPD, autoimmune issues, and other issues that might make you more likely to be at risk.)
--Out of the county on election day AND during the period for in-person early voting
--Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
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The sitesVote.org , Vote411.org, and Vote.gov also provide a variety of voter information for all states, in case you want to double-check your details.
