Blog

Immigration and Voting in the Upcoming General Election

August 24, 2020

By Lara Borrego

Law Clerk

Bolour/ Carl Immigration Group

The United States has the largest immigrant population of any country in the world and they hold immense political power.  On November 3^rd, 2020, they will be able to wield their influence on who gets to serve them as President as well as in Congress.

According to a recent report by the Pew Research Center, a record number of naturalized U.S. citizens, as high as 10% of the 2020 electorate, are eligible to vote this November.  Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship, 18 years of age or older, and other mandates as listed by each State.  Visit Here for more information on voter requirements and registration.

For U.S. citizens, voting is a civil duty that is also fun!  Every candidate has a website that states their goals if they win their election.  Do your research and vote accordingly.  To find out more on the specific issues that are important to you and the voting process in general, click here.

Please note that for foreign nationals, including green card holders, registering and/or voting in federal elections is against the law and carries severe penalties, including removal from the United States.  So please don’t even register to vote if you are not a U.S. citizen. 

If you are not an eligible voter, you could still help by encouraging your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues who are eligible, to vote.  Develop a voting plan for them.  Drive them to the polls.  If they plan to vote by mail (absentee ballot), encourage them to vote as soon as they get their ballot so to sidestep the ongoing political drama currently associated with the US Postal Service.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has detailed information on what states allow which methods of voting absentee and the National Vote at Home Institute can provide information to voters on deadlines in each state.

Find your states voting rules and regulations here.

California Voting & Deadlines

1. October 20, 2020 New Voter Registration deadline.
   1. Register to vote here.
   2. If you are already a registered voter, you do not need to sign up for vote-by-mail this election.
2. Sign up to receive election reminders here.
3. October 27, 2020– Absentee Ballot Received
4. November 3, 2020- Election Day
   1. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by November 3, 2020
   2. Ballots returned in person, at a secure drop box, polling place, vote center, or county elections office by November 3, 2020
   3. Find your polling center here.
5. Track it. Sign up at sos.ca.gov for alerts by text, email or voice call on the status of your vote-by-mail ballot.

Please feel free to contact us at info@americanvisas.net if you have any questions or concerns.