The 2020 Elections: Selected Resources for Members and Constituents

"The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and reports of potential election interference might raise questions for Members and constituents about the 2020 elections. Potential disinformation campaigns and changes to election procedures in response to COVID-19 might make it more difficult for voters to determine how to register and vote. Voters might also be concerned about possible effects of COVID-19 or interference efforts on their safety or on the security of election workers or the electoral process itself.

This Insight shares selected resources Members and constituents might find helpful for navigating such questions. It links to information about (1) how to register and vote in 2020, and (2) how federal agencies are responding to potential election interference efforts and election effects of COVID-19. This product focuses on resources available from government officials and some of the organizations that support them, such as the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and National Conference of StateLegislatures (NCSL). Additional information may be available from media outlets or nonprofit groups.

Registering and Voting in 2020

States, territories, and localities have primary responsibility for administering elections in the United States, and their election officials are generally the most authoritative sources of information about when,where, and how to register and vote. NASS, which represents the officials who serve as the chief electionofficial in most states and territories, and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), which was established after the 2000 elections to help improve the administration of federal elections, each maintain a website that links to official state, territorial, and local election information. NASS’s site and the EAC’s site both provide access to contact information for election officials and state-specific tools for performing common voter activities, such as registering to vote, confirming voter registration status, locating a polling place, and checking requirements for voting early or by mail. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Federal Voting Assistance Program, which is charged with carrying out certain responsibilities under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986, maintains a Voting AssistanceGuide that is directed primarily at overseas civilians and military personnel..."
2020 Election