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Aristotle said "man is a political animal," but he could not have imagined the ferocity of this election year. Going into 2020, we had an idea of how contentious this presidential race would be, but not that we would be navigating it during a pandemic. Participation is all the more urgent now and if you’re not already registered to vote, you may be able to do so online.

Who Can Vote?

The basic requirements to vote in a federal election in the United States are that you are a US citizen (by birth or naturalization) who is at least 18 years old on Election Day. But there are other rules that vary by state, such as residency dates, criminal conviction status, and controversial voter ID requirements.

Can I Register to Vote Online?

Election Day this year is Nov. 3 and deadlines for registering—whether online, by mail, or in person—can be found on Vote.org. With the way time passes so quickly lately, it’s best to get registered to vote as early as possible no matter your state's deadline. This is pretty easy to take care of if you live in one of the 40 states where you can register to vote online. The National Conference of State Legislatures has the full list and links to applications for the states that offer it. Vote.gov has both links to state registration sites and compiles all registration deadlines.

What If My State Doesn't Let Me Register Online?

Should your state not have online voter registration, you can print out and mail in a form from the United States Election Assistance Commission. Click on your state and look for the Register to Vote option, and it should bring you to your state’s form.

Are You in the Military or Voting From Overseas?

Citizens who do not currently reside in the United States, whether for military or other reasons, and need assistance voting can find it via the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

Rock the Vote

If celebrity pitches are persuasive to you, there’s the option to Rock the Vote. There, you can register to vote and get answers to questions about whether or not a school mailbox can be used as a permanent address.

Become a Poll Worker

Should you want to get even more involved in the election this year, consider becoming a poll worker. Poll workers are often older Americans who are most at risk of contracting COVID-19, meaning there's a serious shortage of available people to assist in 2020. Signing up can help alleviate the wait at the polls on Election Day. You’ll be issued PPE, given training and, depending on your state, could be paid. Head to PowerthePolls.org for details.

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