While living through a global pandemic, an election season rages forward. The added complications of social distancing, mask wearing and sanitization make determining how to vote safely and effectively much more difficult. HamVotes is here to facilitate in that process whether you are registering to vote for the first time or want to change your home address to vote in person or absentee. In coordination with the mail center, Student Activities and HamVotes will be paying for stamps for absentee ballots and voter registrations, so just go up to the desk and ask for a stamp for your documents and they will provide one free of charge. We highly encourage checking out the website allintovote.org for amazing resources and state by state guides, as well as

our website

for more resources such as candidate guides, and registration deadlines. Even though the pandemic has made voting more complex, it has also increased its relevance for many people. A few members of HamVotes would like to tell you why voting is important to them, and we hope that this encourages all of you to vote on Nov. 3!

Tatum:

“I am voting this year because I have a deep sense of political efficacy. I believe that one vote can make a difference and that I have the duty as a citizen to vote. Given that this election year we are celebrating the 100th year of the women’s right to vote, I recognize how fortunate I am to have these constitutional rights. Amid the struggles of living during a pandemic, I see voting as one of the few ways I can directly contribute to creating change within America and working towards a more equal nation.”

Amanda:

“I am voting in this election because I believe that we have a civic duty to vote. We vote not just for ourselves and our own political beliefs, but also for people in our communities that we love. The individuals we elect to our government make decisions that significantly affect us all. Even in scenarios where neither candidate is personally appealing, I think we all have an obligation to vote in order to protect the people we care about. Voting is never just about one person.”

Alex:

“I am voting in this election to make change in society. I believe we are at a turning point in history, and with wildly different opinions on a variety of issues, I want to know that the authority aligns with my ideals. Our democracy works best when we exercise our right to vote. If not, the people lose increasing amounts of control on their country.”

Peter:

“Voting is the only check that we the people have on the government. It is the only way to ensure that the issues that affect us are seen and recognized. By not voting, not only are you not doing your civic duty, but you are enabling the government to ignore you and those in more vulnerable positions.”

Gianni:

“We are currently living in an extremely divided political climate where every vote counts. Regardless of where one might stand on certain issues, the most effective way to have a voice in our government is to vote for someone who will advocate for those views. All votes count. If everyone just decided that there is no point in voting since one vote will not change anything, there would be no democracy.