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Voting by mail is the best way to reduce your risk of exposure to COVID-19, and rest assured that both absentee ballots and mail-in ballots are secure forms of voting.
Dr. Thuc Huynh shares alternative ways to vote in this new "From the Frontlines" video (opens in new tab).
Video Transcript
“Hi I’m Dr. Thuc Huynh, and I’m a Oscar Medical Director of Virtual Care with Oscar.
Election day is coming up fast, and I know many people may be wondering how they can vote while minimizing their risk of exposure to COVID-19. You can do that by voting ahead of election day, either by mail or through early voting.
A great way to decrease your risk of exposure to COVID-19 is to vote by mail. Every state has its own rules and deadlines for absentee voting. For example, some states require you to fill out and return an absentee ballot application before you can receive your absentee ballot, while other states allow you to request your ballot directly online. And once you receive your absentee ballot, many states also offer the option to drop off your ballot at your County Board of Elections office or local polling locations.
Know that there are deadlines to request and postmark your absentee ballot. These deadlines will come up fast, so I recommend looking up your state’s regulations and deadlines as soon as possible.
Many states also offer early voting, where you can go to a local polling station and vote prior to Election Day. Early voting sites tend to be less crowded, which means less exposure.
If you decide to vote early, remember to wear your mask, bring your own pen, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol or wash your hands with soap and water, and stay as far as possible from others who aren’t part of your household.