TFK Explains: Voting in 2020

October 8, 2020

TFK editors

TRAINING DAY Sample ballots are used during a training session in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, on September 22. RACHEL WISNIEWSKI—BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

When is Election Day?

According to United States law, Election Day is the Tuesday right after the first Monday in November, in even-numbered years. In 2020, Election Day is November 3. Americans will vote for a number of things. These include who should be president of the United States.

What if someone can’t vote in person on Election Day?

Many states allow people to vote at a polling place before Election Day. This is called early voting. It can start as soon as 45 days before Election Day. Some people are unable to vote in person. So all 50 states and Washington, D.C., allow voting by mail.

Who can vote by mail?

This year, most registered voters have the option to vote by mail. Because of the pandemic, many people are worried about voting at a crowded polling place. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked Americans to consider “voting alternatives.” One of these is mail-in voting. Election officials are making it easier for voters to submit mail-in ballots.

WAITING TO VOTE On September 18, people line up for the first day of early voting in Fairfax, Virginia.

SARAH SILBIGER—BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

How does mail-in voting work?

A voter is mailed a ballot. He or she fills it out and seals it inside two envelopes, with a signature. Then it’s mailed to the election office. In some locations, ballots can be placed in a secure drop box. This procedure varies. Elections are run by state and local governments. Each has its own system.

How secure is voting by mail?

Some people, including President Donald Trump, have expressed concern about the security of voting by mail. But experts say fraud is extremely rare. Officials are on the lookout for people who send in more than one ballot or who vote under someone else’s name.

When will we know who won the presidential election?

Usually, election results are unofficially announced on election night. But mail-in ballots take longer to count. And more people than usual are expected to vote by mail this year. It could be days or weeks before a winner is made official.