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The Powder Blue’s 2020 Election Edition
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If this is your first time voting in a presidential election, congrats! This special election issue of The Powder Blue will cover voting logistics, resources and lots more. Election season can take up a lot of energy and focus. Try to get ahead on schoolwork and sleep so that you don’t get too off-track while watching the results. Read through this issue, CAST YOUR VOTE and enjoy the feeling of making your voice count.
If there’s anything you’re unsure about or need help with, contact the Office of Community Engagement at engaged@olemiss.edu with any questions.
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| When and where to vote
In-person polling places in Mississippi are open Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 7 p.m., you can vote. Check on your registration and find your polling place at Can I Vote?
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| Deciding how to vote
Research your ballot at BallotReady.org. Memorize your choices or write them on a piece of paper to bring with you. Remember, you won’t be able to pull your phone out while you’re voting.
The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement’s UM Votes Blog has broken down the Yes/No measures on the Mississippi ballot so you aren’t guessing in the voting booth. Here’s a sample ballot for Lafayette County and here’s some more info about this election’s statewide measures:
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| Probably a good idea to bring
Water, snacks, comfy clothes (political gear isn’t allowed inside the polling place), fully charged phone for scrolling in line, patience
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| How to get there
If you need a ride, the university is running free shuttles all day to all three polling places of on-campus housing residents. More info further down.
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| When to get there
Voting in a pandemic could be unpredictable, so it’s probably best to get there as early as you can. Communicate with your instructors if you’ll need to miss class to vote.
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| While you’re there
- Keep your mask on, socially distance from others, be respectful of poll workers and other voters and remember that you may be in line a while.
- Sanitize just before and after casting your vote.
- Lafayette County has paper ballots for this election, so make sure to fill in the oval completely next to your choice with the pen provided – check marks or other kinds of line marks aren’t recommended.
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| When you’re done
Leave the polling place quickly so others can get in. Mississippi is a “no selfies with your ballot” state, so wait until you’re outside for an “I Voted” sticker photo.
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| While you’re waiting for the results
Watch with your roommates or join a virtual watch party. Keep your social media posts to information that’s verified and civil.
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Tuesday, Nov. 3 is the deadline to get your absentee ballot postmarked, meaning you get it in the mail before the mail is picked up. Make sure your ballot is notarized, which you can do at the County Circuit Clerk’s Office or by emailing engaged@olemiss.edu to make an appointment. More info about absentee voting is here.
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Free shuttles to and from campus and most polling places will run every half hour on Tuesday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. RSVP for a shuttle and find more info here.
Polls close at 7 p.m., so you’ll need to be in line by 7 p.m. to vote. The shuttles will return students to campus until 8 p.m., but no one will be stranded at the polls. Mask up for the shuttle!
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Congratulations! You did a great job taking care of something important. Maybe reward yourself with a treat and do something relaxing. With this election’s high number of mail-in ballots, the outcome may not be clear on election night, so be mindful of getting enough sleep and limiting your stress level.
Join a virtual watch party or create your own! If there are people you want to watch the returns with who aren’t your roommates, think about setting up a Zoom room that people can pop in and out of.
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Let’s talk about feelings and how not to hurt them
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This election is intense and lots of people feel passionately about it. Think ahead about how you will feel and behave on election night and afterward if your candidate wins, your candidate doesn’t win or there’s no clear answer right away.
While you’re thinking, we’ll just say:
- Everyone’s feelings are real, no matter how different from yours they are.
- Everyone has the right to feel safe.
Ole Miss is taking measures to ensure that campus is safe and that students who feel like they need extra support can get it. Any violent or threatening behavior will absolutely not be tolerated, and should be reported to the University Police Department at 662-915-7234.
Election challenge from Dean of Students Brent Marsh
“I urge all of us to rise above partisan rancor, hateful rhetoric, and toxic vitriol and instead live out the UM Creed. Let’s show respect for each person, act with civility, and demonstrate personal and professional integrity. In that spirit, I have signed the following pledges by Braver Angels and encourage you to do the same: With Malice Toward None and What We Will Do to Hold America Together.”
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Turning comments off for this post
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Your social media is an extension of yourself, and it’s also an extension of the campus community. When engaging with social media, think through this list to make sure you’re expressing yourself authentically and respectfully.
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| Words matter. No way around it. Consider the impact they could have.
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| Check in with yourself about whether you want to express something publicly or to friends and family.
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| Extend understanding to people who may process feelings differently.
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| When reading or sharing information, consider if its source has a known bias or if you’re sure that the information is true.
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| When responding to someone, give yourself time to move from emotion-based reactions to critical analysis and know when to disengage from unproductive conversations.
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Ok, but I just want someone to explain this to me
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Honestly, same. Email the Office of Community Engagement at engaged@olemiss.edu with your questions and they’ll work to get you the answers you need.
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In conclusion, we care about you
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Regardless of the outcome, there will still be a lot to be thankful for and a lot of work to do. You, and the United States, are resilient! Be gentle with yourself and reach out to your trusted people if you need to. Take advantage of UM’s mental health resources below for help managing emotions and stress.
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What do other Ole Miss students think?
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“Voting is important to me because the men and women who have fought for this country fought for our right to vote. Voting is one of our most important duties as citizens. It is a right that a lot of people take for granted because they don’t think their vote matters. Not only should everyone vote, but everyone should make informed decisions before voting.” – B. J.
“I feel it’s important to vote because it helps to voice your opinion on current and future matters. You may feel that your vote doesn’t mean much because of the electoral college or thinking that your state will never go for one candidate or the other, but the margin with which they win each state can help shape how they make potential policy. It may cause politicians to realize they can no longer take that state for granted. I think the most important thing, however, is to encourage your friends and family to vote as well. You may have one vote, but by encouraging others to vote you can start to make a bigger difference in the outcome.” – A. B.
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The Stronger Together Series and PEN America discuss what defines protected and unprotected speech, as well as how to use and navigate free-speech, especially after the presidential election.
Monday, Nov. 2, 3:30 p.m.
The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement presents information about the revised bias response team and offers interactive strategies for disrupting bias.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 12:30 p.m.
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