What do you need to know about the 2020 General Election

Betty Valdés has as a guest Diane Hibino, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County. Diane tells us about the voting process for the November 3 General Election, and how crucial it is to cast your vote. She shares resources to help you register to vote, request an absentee ballot or mail-in ballot, and how to learn about the candidates’ platforms and  Ballot Questions that you can answer with a Yes (for change) or No (for no change). Two of the questions are about the state of Maryland: budget limitations on the General Assembly and on increasing gambling to include sports betting.   Four questions are about Montgomery County:  changing how the property tax is levied and changing the number of County Councilmembers.

There are many important dates to keep in mind when voting:

* Tuesday, October 13: deadline to register to vote according to postmark

* Tuesday, October 20: deadline for the Montgomery County Board of Elections to receive your request to vote by mail

* October 26 to November 2: early voting.

* Tuesday, November 3: Election Day

* Note:  If you were unable to register to vote earlier, you can do so in person during early voting or on the day of voting, Tuesday, November 3.

There are 11 location centers for Early Voting.   There will be additional 28 polling places on Election Day including all public high schools.   Voting by mail is a much safer way to vote due to Covid-19.  You can drop off your mail-in ballot at any drop box which are under 24-hour surveillance and are emptied 1-2 times a day, 7 days a week or mail in your ballot postmarked by November 3^rd.

To learn about the candidates running for the 2020 General Election and the Ballot Questions, visit LWVMocoMD.org and check out their Voters’ Guide in Spanish to be published at the end of September. Visit VOTE411.org (League of Women Voters) or 777VOTE.org (Montgomery County Board of Elections) or Elections.Maryland.gov ( Maryland Board of Elections) for more electoral information. Do not forget to obtain a copy of the “Voters’ Guide” in Spanish in the newspaper “El Tiempo Latino” October 2^nd issue in the orange Newspaper Distribution Boxes in places in Latino communities and businesses near you.