The Election is Near – Voice of Vegas

80 million. Over 80 million people in the U.S. have cast their ballots for the 2020 Presidential Election and it’s still increasing. That’s more than a third of registered voters and more than the total number of early votes cast four years ago in the 2016 election [1][2]. Clearly, the stakes have been raised significantly. People in 2020 have experienced a lot: natural disasters, protests, COVID-19, locust swarms, the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the list seems to be endless. In the United States, everything that has happened has ultimately been building up to one day: November 3, the day that the people decide who will be their president for the next four years. It’s the day where the country and the current administration receive their evaluation, and the day that might quite possibly cause chaos across the nation.

In Nevada, our votes play a crucial role in this election; Nevada is one of the 16 key states in this race and it has already crossed its halfway mark for the total ballots cast back in 2016 [2]. People want their voices to be heard and now more than ever, the participation of the younger generation matters. And as of September 2020, there were 177,893 registered voters between the ages of 18-24, making up around 10% of the voting population [3].

Of course, with COVID-19, voting is not looking the same as it did four years ago. In Nevada, every registered voter received mail-in ballots without having to place a request, but we also have access to in-person voting. At the polling centers, people are wearing masks and social distancing is in practice. Poll workers are also wiping down voting booths after each use, ensuring that whoever comes to cast their vote in-person feels completely comfortable. And for those who don’t find it safe, they are able to mail their ballots or drop them off at a ballot box. Whatever the situation, there IS a solution, so go vote. Go vote and make your voice count. We simply cannot afford to make the same mistake four years ago where only slightly more than half of registered voters actually voted. Because in order for there to be change, everyone needs to take action and play their part.

Election Resources: https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters