2020 Election: What do First Time Voters Need to Know?
With the presidential election only weeks away, many people still have questions about how to vote in this important election year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Understanding both how to vote and who this year’s candidates are are two great places to start.
One question that has been on the minds of many voters this year is how they are expected to vote in the middle of the pandemic. At the moment, there are two ways that people can send in their votes, the first being to vote at a local voting booth. Voters need to bring some form of ID with them to the booths. Examples include student IDs, US passports, and driver’s licenses. Those who are not comfortable with voting in person can vote by mail. New Jersey will be mailing a ballot to every active voter in the state. If you don’t receive a ballot before the election, you can apply to have one mailed to you. When you receive your ballot, follow the voting instructions and return your completed ballot on or before November 3rd.
Other common questions people have relate to this year’s presidential candidates. What are their stances on important issues going on in the world right now? The first presidential candidate is Joe Biden, who is running under the Democratic ticket. Former Vice President Biden served under the Obama administration. Biden’s stances on modern issues are considered to be more liberal leaning, though he is considered a centrist. Some of Biden’s proposals include making the first two years of college free for students, expanding student debt relief programs, and reducing carbon emissions in the United States. Biden is also a supporter of the Black Lives Matter Movement, which has proposed increased funding to police training programs in an effort to put an end to police brutality. Biden is in support of the COPS program, which would hire police officers to engage in community policing activities. If elected, Biden plans to implement a mask mandate to combat the coronavirus. Biden has said that he is in support of the widespread distribution of a coronavirus vaccine once it is deemed safe.
Current President, Donald Trump, is running for re-election. Trump is a Republican candidate with more right-leaning political views. Trump is in support of restrictive immigration policies that include his infamous plan to build a wall at the United States-Mexico border. Over the course of his first term, Trump has removed numerous environmental protection programs. With regards to the Black Lives Matter Movement, Trump has spoken little on the topic, referring to the movement as a ‘symbol of hate’. Trump made this statement after protestors tore down statues of American Confederate leaders and other notoriously racist figures. When the pandemic began, Trump repeatedly undermined the severity of the virus, saying that it was nothing more than the flu. Since then, President Trump has made false claims about just how infectious the virus truly is, also stating that cases are decreasing across the country when in reality, it is the exact opposite. Trump has also mentioned several times that there will be a vaccine by the election, which many experts have disagreed with.
Voting is a great way to ensure that your voice is heard by the government. It is important that you exercise your right to vote not only in presidential elections, but in local and state elections too, as all are equally important to the future of our country. Make sure your voice is heard!
Sources:
NJ DOS
Washington Post
ABC News
Politico
BBC News
CNN
The Atlantic
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