Thousands of Haitian-Americans across the country have already voted thanks to early voting measures in dozens of states. With Election Day now just days away on Nov. 3, The Haitian Times has looked through the voting rules for states with the highest Haitian populations to make voting easier and quicker for you.
Here’s the latest.
FLORIDA
Early voting rules vary based on which county you live in, according to Florida’s government, but most early voting started Oct. 19 and will end Nov. 1.
On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m.- 7pm. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.
ID to bring
You must have an ID card with your photo and signature. Cards accepted are: a Florida driver’s license, a Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles United States, a passport, a Debit or credit card, a Military identification, a Student identification, a Retirement center identification, a Neighborhood association identification, and a Public assistance identification.
Election officials will also accept a Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, a license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm.
Vote-by-mail option
Unfortunately, to vote by mail you would have had to request a mail-in ballot 10 days before election day. If you received your mail-in ballot, make sure it is sent in and arrives before or on Election Day by 7 pm.
You cannot bring your mail-in ballot to a polling place.
NEW YORK
In New York, there are three main ways to vote this year: By absentee ballot, in-person early voting, or in-person voting on Election Day.
Absentee ballot
November 2 is the last day to request an absentee ballot in-person. Requesting an absentee ballot by mail now is too late. The deadline was Oct. 27.
Signed absentee ballots can be returned in any of the following ways: Mail it with a postmark no later than Nov. 3, drop it off at an early voting poll site between Oct. 24 and Nov. 1. You can also drop it off at a poll site on Nov. 3 by 9 p.m. or drop it off at your County Board of Elections Office no later than November 3 by 9 pm.
In-person voting (early and Election Day)
In-person early voting started Oct. 24 and ends on Nov. 1. Head here to find out where and when you can vote near you.
On Nov. 3, polling stations will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
ID to bring
If you’ve voted in New York before, you don’t need to provide an ID to vote. If you’re a first-time voter who registered by mail, and didn’t provide a copy of your ID with your registration, you may need to show ID to vote.
Acceptable forms of ID include: a current and valid photo ID; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address. If you are unable to provide ID, you can vote an affidavit ballot.
MASSACHUSETTS
To vote in Massachusetts, absentee ballots requested by Oct. 28 must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received no later than Nov. 6. You can also return your ballot in person on Nov. 3.
Early voting started on Oct. 17 and will run until Oct. 30 but like Florida, these dates may vary by county.
Election Day voting on November 3 will run from 7 am to 8 pm.
ID to bring
You will be asked to show ID if you are voting for the first time in Massachusetts in a federal election, you are an inactive voter, you are casting a provisional or challenged ballot, or “if the poll worker has a reasonable suspicion that leads them to request identification.”
Poll workers will accept a state driver’s license or state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, signed lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains the voter’s name and address.
If you’re a first-time voter unable to present ID when you check in, you may vote with a provisional ballot and return with acceptable ID by close of polls.
If you’re asked for ID for any other reason, and are not able to present ID in such a situation, you must still be permitted to vote. However, your ballot may be challenged. Your ballot will be cast normally, and will only be re-examined in the case of a recount, court order, or audit.
NEW JERSEY
All active registered voters in New Jersey will automatically receive their ballots in the mail, at the address where the voter is registered. The registration deadline to vote passed on October 13.
If you’re already registered and have your absentee ballot, it must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before Nov. 10.
In addition, you can drop it off in one of your county’s secure ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. on November 3 or to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8 p.m. on Nov.r 3. You can also bring it to your polling place by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Only you, the voter, can bring your ballot to your polling place on Election Day.
If you did not receive your mail-in ballot, contact your county clerk.
ID to bring
If you’ve voted in New Jersey before, you don’t need to provide ID to vote. But, if you’re voting for the first time in your county, or registered to vote by mail and didn’t provide an ID number or copy of ID when you registered, you must show ID to vote.
Acceptable IDs include a New Jersey driver’s license, with or without a photo, military or other government ID, student ID, employee ID, store membership card, US passport, or bank statement, car registration, government check or document, rent receipt, sample ballot, utility bill, or any other official document.
If you do not have any of these IDs and still want to vote, you will be able to cast a provisional ballot.
CONNECTICUT
Every registered voter in the state was sent an absentee ballot in September, but the state does not have early voting like others.
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Nov. 2, but your ballot must be received by Election Day. This means you have to either go in person to get and drop off your ballot at your nearest town hall or leave it at one of the official drop boxes.
If you are already registered, you can head here to find your polling place.
You are allowed to request and receive an absentee ballot and then not use it if you choose to vote in person on November 3.
Polling places across the state will be open from 6 am to 8 pm and anyone that gets in line before 8pm will be allowed to vote.
You must bring some form of ID with a photo, but they will also accept a utility bill, paycheck stub, social security card or any pre-printed form of identification that shows your name and address, or name and signature, or name and photograph.
You can still vote if you don’t have any of those things but you have to sign an affidavit that would make you liable for prosecution if you are not truthful about who you are.
PENNSYLVANIA
All registered voters may request a mail-in ballot for any or no reason but request forms must have been received by your county election board or other designated location by 5 pm on Oct. 27.
If you already have your mail-in ballot, you can mail it in but it must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can hand-deliver your ballot before 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 to your county election office or other officially designated site. Some counties are providing drop-boxes for mail ballots.
If you did not receive your mail in ballot or lost it, you can only vote by provisional ballot at your polling place. Your county board of elections will then verify that you did not vote by mail before counting your provisional ballot.
The last day to do all-in-one early voting (applying for your ballot and voting it early in person) was Oct. 27. You can continue to drop off your mail-in ballot in person until Nov. 3, so long as you applied for it before Oct. 27.
Polls on Election Day will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
ID to bring
If you’ve voted at your polling place before, you don’t need to show ID to vote, but if you’re a first-time voter, or if you moved within Pennsylvania and are voting for the first time at a new polling place, you must show ID to vote.
They will accept a Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card, and ID issued by Pennsylvania or the US government, a US passport, US military ID, student ID, employee ID or a confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office.
It is also acceptable to bring a non-photo ID issued by Pennsylvania or the US government, firearm permit, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or a government check that includes your name and address.
If you don’t have ID, you can vote with a provisional ballot.
MARYLAND
You can either vote in person during early voting or on Election Day, or by mail-in ballot. Early voting started Oct. 26 and will run until Nov. 2. You can find an early voting center here.
Each early voting center will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. On Election Day, you can vote at any election day vote center in your county.
The deadline to request a ballot online or by mail has passed, but if to vote by mail-in ballot, go to the local board of elections. You can pick up your ballot there and either vote and return it then or take your ballot with you and return it by mail or at a ballot drop box.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on at least Nov. 3 and must be received by Nov. 13.
ID to bring
If you’re voting in person and you’ve voted in Maryland before, you don’t need to provide ID.
If you’re a first-time voter who registered by mail and didn’t provide a copy of your Maryland driver’s license, state or federal ID card, MVA ID card, student, employee, or military ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address when you registered, you may need to show one of these documents to vote.
If you’re a first time voter and unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. For your ballot to count, you must provide ID to your local board of elections before 10 a.m. on the 2nd Wednesday after Election Day.
GEORGIA
Early voting in Georgia began on Oct. 12 and ends on Oct. 30. You can find your polling locations and times here.
The last day to request your ballot is Oct. 30, 2020 and your absentee ballot must be received by the county by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2020. You can mail it in or put it in your county’s drop box.
You have to vote at your designated precinct if you decide to vote in-person on Nov. 3.
ID to bring
Voters will need to show photo ID to vote. Polling stations will accept any valid state or federal government issued photo ID. Acceptable ID includes: a free ID card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services, a Georgia driver’s license, even if expired, valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the US Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state, valid US passport ID,valid US military photo ID, student photo ID card issued by a Georgia public college, university, or technical school, or a valid tribal photo ID.
If you do not have these IDs, you can fill out a provisional ballot. If you are a first-time voter, you will need to provide a copy of your ID within three days after the election to your County Board of Elections and Registration for your provisional ballot to be counted.
On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line by 7 pm, you are allowed to cast your ballot.