With less than a month before Election Day in the United States, most Americans are both anxious and excited. Every four years, Americans have the opportunity to elect the President, the Vice President, Senators, and Representatives. Some states will also be electing Attorney Generals, Governors, and other local officials. With so many contested seats, there is the potential for the political foundation of the country to change.
This year’s election falls on November 3rd. When the United States was established, the Founding Fathers had not designated a certain day to vote. States had a period of a month to collect ballots and count them up. This old system gave voters flexibility, but it could easily sway results. Imagine that you are from New York and haven’t voted yet, and then, you see that a different candidate has already won Pennsylvania. Maybe you would second-guess who you are voting for. Later in 1845, the US passed a law that elections must be held on the first Tuesday of November. This seems like an odd day to have chosen, but when America was a rural, farming country, it could take voters up to two days to travel to the polls. Now, there are many more polling locations.
Photo: Penn State Flickr
During a normal year, polls are stationed at churches, schools, township buildings, and fire stations. While waiting outside of the building, canvassers may walk up to voters to see who they are voting for and to try to offer them information about their political party. Once the voters enter inside, a poll worker will collect their personal information and check their registration. They are asked to display their photo identification and their registration card. Then, a poll worker will direct the voter to a private machine, where they make their selections. Though some counties still use paper ballots, this method takes longer because the ballots have to be counted by hand.
Photo: Politico.com
Though Election Day may seem serious at times, there are lots of fun traditions to lighten up the mood. At nearly every polling center, voters can receive a sticker that says, “I Voted.” The stickers are worn to show that you’ve done your civic duty. Some shops will even give you a small discount if you show them the sticker. Americans often sit by their TVs the night of Election Day. As data comes in, the news broadcasts which states candidates have won or lost. It’s a suspenseful process that can extend late into the night and into the next day.
Due to the global pandemic, the election this year will look a bit different. Most states are offering mail-in ballots to voters. Normally, mail-in ballots are only available to people who cannot leave their homes or to students who are studying in a different state. This year, mail-in ballots are being widely distributed. Because mail-in ballots take more time to count or might arrive after November 3rd, it is likely that the American people won’t know the result of the election the next morning. Some political scientists think that it might be weeks after the election until the results can be finalized.
As we get closer and closer to November 3rd, Americans are gearing up by doing research, watching the Presidential debates, and talking with their friends and family to make their final decisions. Though elections may seem divisive, they offer the opportunity for the community to gather in one spot and to have meaningful conversations about their values. Election Day is a time where Americans can celebrate the nation’s history and reflect on the changes they would like to see moving forward.
Vocabulary:
Seats (n.): generally refers to an elected position, and sometimes used specifically to describe the open elected positions in Congress
Founding Fathers (n.): the group of men that fought for American Independence and signed the US Constitution in 1787
Ballots (n.): the sheet of paper on which a voter marks their choices
Sway (v.): to control or influence one’s actions
Second-guess (v.): to question a decision or action that has already been completed
Township (n.): the smallest unit of government, below the state level
Canvasser (n.): a person who tries to persuade people to vote for or support someone or something
Suspenseful (adj.): causing feelings of uncertainty and excitement
Divisive (adj.): tends to cause disagreement or hostility
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bridgette Lang is an undergraduate student studying International Relations at Boston University. On campus, she helps run a collegiate Model United Nations Conference and manages finances for BU College Democrats. In her free time, Bridgette enjoys traveling, trying to learn Spanish, and visiting with her friends and family back home in Pennsylvania.