Participate by exercising your right to vote!
Daemen wants to encourage our college community to exercise their right to vote! That’s why we’ve created “Get Civically Fit at Daemen,” a collaborative initiative co-sponsored by the departments of History & Political Science, Athletics, Institutional Advancement, and Student Affairs. Make sure you know these important dates below!
- The 2020 General Election is November 3, 2020
- The last day to register to take part in this election is October 9, 2020
Check out the information and resources below to get prepared and educated about what you need to know for 2020.
Registering to Vote
In order to vote you must:
- be a United States citizen;
- be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file this form (note: you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote);
- live at your present address at least 30 days before an election;
- not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction;
- not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court;
- not claim the right to vote elsewhere (or vote elsewhere).
For more information about voting and a helpful FAQ, check out the Daemen History & Political Science blog.
Confirm Your Information
You can look up your voter registration information with the New York Board of Elections.
Register Through the DMV
Alternatively, you may register to vote through the DMV website if you have an account (i.e. drivers license or automobile registration). You may also register in person at the Erie County Board of Elections on 134 West Eagle St. in Buffalo or at any Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) up to October 9, 2020.
On Campus Voter Registration
New for the 2020 General Election, you are eligible to vote absentee if you are:
- Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City, absent from said city, on Election Day.
- Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability; or because you are the primary caregiver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
- A patient or inmate in a Veterans' Administration Hospital.
- Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.
- prefer to vote by mail rather than in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- on active duty in the uniformed service or an eligible spouse or dependent of such individual
- a US citizen living outside the country
- a voter with special needs and require a special ADA compliant ballot
Erie County’s new absentee voter application process!
This is now the most efficient way to apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot, using the on-line portal. This avoids transcription errors and the necessity and delays accompanying the sending of your request through the mail. You will receive immediate confirmation of your request. This portal will remain active for requests through 11:59 pm on October 27,2020.
Check the status of your absentee or mail-in ballot or request
For the November 3, 2020 General Election, the last day to postmark your absentee ballot request is October 27, 2020. The last day to make an in-person absentee ballot request is November 2.
If you requested an absentee ballot, the ballot itself will be mailed to you at the address you listed on the application form. Do not expect to receive the ballot until after September 18. That is because the elections boards cannot print and send them out until the date for certifying the ballot has passed.
You must mark and return the ballot to actually cast your vote. You can either mail it back, or drop it off in person:
- Absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 3 (if returned by mail). It must be received by the board of election by November 10. If you can mail it early, you probably want to do so, just to be extra sure it reaches the board of elections by the deadline. If the post mark is missing or blurred, your ballot will still be counted as long as it is received by the board of elections by November 4.
- You also have the option of returning your absentee ballot by dropping it off at an early voting site during the 9 days of early voting (October 24-November 1), or by returning it to any polling place on election day (November 3).
- If you cannot pick up your ballot in person, or will not be able to receive it through the mail, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up and return it for you. Only the person who is designated on your absentee ballot application may pick up and deliver your ballot in person.
Early Voting in New York
For the 2020 General Election (November 3), the early voting period is October 24, 2020 to November 1, 2020.
Please note: there is no early voting on the day before the election (November 2).
Time Saving Tip: When early voting, if you take your voter registration card with you, they can use the barcode on the back to more quickly retrieve your voter registration information in the electronic rolls.
Voting at the Polls on Election Day
To vote in person on election day, you must report to the designated polling place for the address at which you are registered to vote. If you are not sure where your polling place is, or you lost your voter registration card, look up your information.
In New York, POLLS OPEN AT 6 AM - CLOSE AT 9 PM on election day (November 3).
A well-functioning democracy is dependent upon fair and open elections and on the dedicated workers, everyday citizens like you, who give their time and talent to staffing the polling places on election day. You can be a direct part of this great civic endeavor by becoming a poll worker (also known as an elections inspector).
Working Days: Election Day in November (November 3), Early Voting (October 24-November 1). You have to attend a training session.The hours of an Election Inspector are 5:30 a.m. until approximately 9:30 p.m., with 1-hour breaks for both lunch and dinner.
The rate of compensation varies by county. Erie County pays $190 for the day for inspectors, and $25 for the training. You are required to provide your own transportation to the election district to which you are assigned (you can specify in the application where you are willing to work).
For voters outside of New York State, you can find information on the voter registration, absentee voting, and voting options here: https://www.vote.org/