Register to vote: the most important thing to participate in these elections

For the first time,

- a historic opportunity to determine the course of the nation.

Fulfilling this great responsibility in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic is a huge challenge.

But on this National Voter Registration Day we offer you the information and tools you need to make history.

The first thing to keep in mind is that only registered voters can vote, either in person or by mail (with the exception of North Dakota, where there is no registry).

[Follow our coverage of the 2020 presidential elections]

In each election millions of people are left without voting because they did not register on time, did not update their registration or never knew how to register.

So who can vote?

Only citizens over 18 years of age have the right to vote and, therefore, to register to do so.

However, some states allow 17-year-olds to register if they will have their birthday before the election.

Immigrants without citizenship, such as permanent residents or undocumented people, cannot vote.

Plan your vote

You should also consider that there is more than one way to vote.

The rules vary from state to state - in some states it can be done ahead of time by mail or even in person.

But in others you can only vote on Election Day, November 3, 2020.

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Map of the United States showing which states voters can register to vote in and cast their ballot on the same day.NBC News

For this reason, at Telemundo we have a digital guide to help you, Plan your Voto, to offer answers about how the voting process is state by state.

There you can answer your questions about when to register, how to cast the ballot by mail, and how to vote early in person.

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You can also consult the official guide for federal elections in Spanish.

Check that you are registered

If you have already registered, check that your name is on the list.

It is important not to trust yourself and verify that you appear in the database of your state before the end of the registration period or otherwise you could be left without voting.

If you have moved or changed your address, you should also update that information.

You can verify if you are registered through our digital platform 'El Poder en Ti'.

There you will also find the forms to vote by mail and a link to register online in the states that allow it.

You have doubts?

Call by phone

As part of our Decision 2020 campaign, Telemundo has been operating a sequence of bilingual phone banks in partnership with the Hispanic Federation to encourage Latino voters to register to vote.

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During this National Voter Registration Day, the national telephone bank will operate from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm (Eastern Time), with operators on standby to ensure you have all the information you need, not just to register as a voter. , but also to learn about the rules and restrictions associated with voting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Call +1 (844) 432-9832 for the free consultation.

"An enormous power"

The Latino electorate has grown throughout the country and, above all, will be decisive in the so-called pendulum states, where Democrats and Republicans have similar levels of support and with each vote they can turn to one side or the other, which makes them essential for win an election.

In addition, it is a historic opportunity for the youngest to make their voice heard: 3.6 million Latinos will turn 18 and will be able to vote for the first time this November 3.

According to a recent poll that Telemundo published in conjunction with

, 64% of Hispanics ages 18-34 “definitely” plan to vote in the presidential election.

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“Latinos have enormous power to shape the outcome of the 2020 elections. At Telemundo, we are dedicating our platforms and resources to ensure that our community is empowered to vote and informed about how to vote safely during the pandemic.

Together with our partners, we hope to inspire you to recognize and honor the importance of your vote on National Voter Registration Day and beyond, ”said Christina Kolbjornsen, Senior Vice President of Corporate and External Affairs for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises.

stay informed

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