2020 election day is coming up. Here's what to expect

A woman drops off her ballot in an official ballot box in Huntington Park.

By Jessica RoyAssistant Editor, Utility Journalism

Oct. 29, 2020 3:12 PM PT

After approximately 10,000 years of the 2020 presidential campaign cycle, election day, Tuesday, is almost here.

Already, more than 80 million ballots have been cast. Midway through October, more than 1 million had already arrived in California.

But it’s not over till it’s over (which is not necessarily going to be Tuesday, by the way). Here’s what you can still do to make a difference, and what to expect once the big day gets here.

Research what’s on your ballot

Still need to fill out your ballot? You’ve got this last weekend to buckle down and do some research. You don’t have to vote in every race on the ballot. If all you care about is the presidential contest, you can fill in that bubble and leave the rest blank. Here’s our guide to what’s on the ballot, and the L.A. Times editorial board’s endorsements.

Drop off your ballot or vote in person

The United States Postal Service says mail-in ballots sent via regular mail might not make it before election day. A better bet: Drop yours off at a dedicated ballot box, or vote in person.

If you didn’t register to vote in California, you can still cast a ballot. California has conditional voter registration — sometimes called “same-day voter registration” — which lets you register up until the day of the election at your county elections office or a community vote center. You can then cast a ballot, which will be processed and counted after county election officials verify your registration.

Here’s our interactive map where you can enter your address and find your nearest ballot box and voting center.

Track your ballot

Help your friends and family vote

You’ve earned that “I Voted” sticker. Share the love by checking in with your loved ones. Reach out directly, or make a post on social media offering whatever help you feel comfortable giving — helping to research propositions, driving someone to the polls or helping them find an official ballot drop box.

Volunteer for your candidate or party

It’s not too late to do some phone banking or texting. Search “(candidate) phone banking” or “volunteer for (candidate)” to find information on how you can still help. It will probably feel a little bit more productive than spending the weekend doomscrolling.

Know what to expect on election day

We can’t see the future and tell you exactly how election day will go or what happens after. But we can tell you how our politics team plans to cover it.

As for voting, states have until Dec. 8 to count up all the votes and declare a winner — and there is a legal system in place for what happens if a state’s outcome is still disputed at that point. If the electoral college is deadlocked, we might wind up with President Pelosi, though the odds of that happening are slim.

If you feel like you just can’t wait for the election to be over, you aren’t alone — scientifically speaking, everything is terrible now. The end is in sight.

Until then, take a few deep breaths, and perhaps consider reading through our 13-step guide to staying sane.

Common questions about the election and voting

UPDATED Oct. 29, 2020 | 10:42 AM

When will we know the winner of the presidential election?

It may not be on the night of Nov. 3 or even the day after election day. That’s because of the large numbers of mail-in ballots being cast this year and various states’ rules about how and when those ballots are counted. Results reported on election night are always unofficial — it takes weeks for official results to be certified. Media organizations project winners and results based on the vote count, polling numbers and historical trends, and losing candidates typically concede to the winners before official results are reported.

Why do mail-in ballots take longer to count?

Before a voter’s mailed ballot is tabulated, election officials need to verify the signature on each ballot, open it, flatten it out and scan it, Amber McReynolds, chief executive of the National Vote at Home Institute, told The Times. Some states, including some swing states, can’t begin that process until election day. California counties can begin processing mail-in ballots 10 business days before election day.

Why are so many people voting by mail in California?

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered that mail ballots be sent to every registered voter. (More than 1 million Californians had returned them by mid-October.) That way, people could use an existing and well-run, if sometimes slow, system to vote and could avoid a crowded vote center on election day.

Want to know more about your options for voting? The Times has you covered.

What about irregularities?

Some people have reported receiving duplicate ballots or ballots for people who don’t live at their address or ballots for deceased relatives. It’s illegal to impersonate a voter or to vote more than once. So it’s best to contact your county elections officials if you receive a ballot that isn’t yours or is a duplicate. The potentially 200 or so voters whose ballots may have been damaged in a fire in a drop box in Baldwin Park can call (562) 503-2445 for assistance.