General Election Update
The 2020 General Election is just around the corner, and the Washoe County Registrar of Voters Office is, as always, dedicated to making this historic election smooth, efficient, and secure.
The first thing voters should do is sign up for BallotTrax, a digital tracking system that notifies voters every time their ballot is scanned from the moment it’s mailed to the moment it’s counted. Much like tracking a package from Amazon, voters can track their ballot and rest assured knowing that it is received and counted.
No one wants to wait in line to vote, and Washoe County has taken measures to help voters avoid long lines. Early Voting is October 17-30, and all 15 early-voting locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each of these locations will also have a ballot drop-off box for those who just want to drop off their mail-in ballot rather than vote in person at a machine. Another 15 ballot drop-off boxes will be available at convenient locations around the county.
Of course the easiest way to vote is to simply return the ballot in the mail. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, November 3, and received by the registrar within seven days after Election Day, but why wait? Send it in early so you don’t have to worry about running out of time.
For those who prefer to vote in person on Election Day, there will be 29 vote centers. Every effort has been made to select large venues that can accommodate proper social distancing between voting machines and in line. Each of these vote centers will also have ballot drop-boxes for mail-in ballots. Just as with Early Voting, there will be ballot drop-offs at an additional 16 locations around the county. All ballot drop off locations will be staffed and secure.
An excellent way to avoid long lines during Early Voting and on Election Day is to use the county’s “wait times” app before heading to the polls. See how long the wait is, and perhaps choose a location that has a shorter wait time. And remember, there are no precincts anymore, so choose the location that’s most convenient for you.
Finally, with the heavy reliance on mail-in ballots, (we were going to see a delay in results because of AB 345 which was before going all mail in – Same Day Registration plus mail in ballots) voters should be aware that Washoe County does not expect to have final results right away. With same-day voter registration and mail-in ballots, ballots may continue to arrive up to a week after Election Day, and the final canvass of the vote is November 16. Until that time, results should be considered preliminary.
Voting is an essential right in the United States. Nearly 300,000 Washoe County residents are registered to vote, and every one of those votes counts in shaping our community. Vote early. Vote by mail or in person. Vote before work, after school, or on the weekend. However you choose to do it, just vote.