Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1291735
Q. What should voters know about pandemic-related changes to the Nov. 3 election process? The big lesson here is our democracy is resilient, and this year is no different. There was a question of whether elections should be postponed, and the answer was no. When we got stakehold- ers around the table, we realized that a lot of policies that increase voter registra- tion and access make even more sense during a pandemic. Vote-by-Mail (VBM) has been very popular — 70 percent of ballots cast in the March primary were by mail. There's no more convenient and safe way to vote than to cast our postage-paid ballot from home. We're also working with all 58 counties to have drop-off locations and as many in-per- son options as safely possible. Q. What do you want voters to know about voting by mail? VBM is nothing new. It's proven to be successful, convenient and secure. There are numerous security measures in place to protect the integrity of the election, including special paper and distinguish- ing characteristics on ballots. All ballots postmarked by Election Day will be counted, and we have extended the time they can arrive by 17 days to allow for potential mail delays. We don't want anyone losing their right to vote because of something out of their control. IT'S SAFE, CONVENIENT AND SECURE Voting by Mail When the extent of the COVID-19 threat became apparent in March, state officials sprang into action to ensure the Nov. 3 election would be safe, secure and accessible. We spoke with Secretary of State Alex Padilla about this unique election and everything being done to protect votes, voters and our very democracy. A Q&A with Secretary of State Alex Padilla Q. Tell me about the state's new ballot tracking tool, 'Where's My Ballot?' We had ballot tracking in some counties prior to this, but we decided to expand to all 58 with the pandemic. Voters can register at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov and receive notifications when their ballot has been sent, when the county receives it, even when their vote is counted. This new service increases transparency, security and peace of mind— and 750,000 have signed up as of early September. Democracy works best when as many people as possible participate. We're doing everything we can to increase this participation and the voter confidence fundamental to American democracy. Q. What would you like to say to the educators teaching about civics and democracy to provide the foundation for students to become tomorrow's leaders? Thank you to all educators, because we know it's not easy. I know that teachers are supporting students every day to be leaders. My parents never talked about voting at the dinner table because they weren't citizens and couldn't vote. I think about young people all over the state who have this same experience. The support of an educator can have a huge impact on students getting registered. When I turned 18, it was my high school government teacher who registered me to vote. '' As a nurse, I know we'll need both state and federal support as school districts emerge from the pandemic. I'm voting to make sure those elected officials support our schools and our students." TARA COVINGTON Chula Vista Educators DATES YOU SHOULD KNOW 19 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0