Updated 10.19.2020
We know that coaches are navigating the waters to register and educate student-athletes on voting. The WBCA Social Justice Task Force has worked to provide programming and resources to help educate your teams about the importance of voting and civic engagement.
Programming and Initiatives
WBCA & NABC Voter Engagement Coaches Forum
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Moderator: Christy Winters Scott, analyst, ESPN
Forum Participants: Eric Reveno, associate head men's basketball coach, Georgia Tech; Brian Rosario, assistant women's basketball coach, Pepperdine; Charmin Smith, head women's basketball coach, California; Gary Stewart, head men’s basketball coach, Stevenson.
Info: Voter registration and turnout historically lag for our nation’s younger Millennial and Gen Z populations – including student-athletes. In this WBCA-NABC Coaches Forum, learn about the efforts being taken by the WBCA and NABC to increase student-athlete voter engagement and how coaches can support this movement.
Registration: This free session is open the public. Click here to register.
WBCA & RISE Civic Engagement Workshop
Date: Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Dr. Andrew Mac Intosh, VP of Curriculum, RISE
Info: The need for civic engagement has never been greater as people across the country struggle with the pandemic, racism, economic hardships and more — all within the backdrop of the upcoming election that’s now just two months away. Join RISE and the WBCA as we discuss actions taking place across the sports industry, assess where you are on a civic engagement spectrum, and discuss ways to support your team’s efforts to make a positive impact within their communities. Click here to view the recording.
Voter Education Program in partnership with SAVE Alliance
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Host: Zach Kancher, Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Towson
Info: Founded by Zach Kancher, SAVE Alliance (Student-Athlete Voter Engagement) @athletesvote is a non-partisan voter education and engagement platform specifically designed for university athletic departments, coaches and student-athletes. @Athletesvote is the designated Voting Education Coordinator for Coaches 4 Change, a non-profit that provides a platform to engage, educate and empower young voters. Click here to view the recording.
#TakeChargeAndVote
On Monday, Aug. 3, the WBCA launched the #TakeChargeAndVote campaign. Every day leading up to National Voter Registration Day (Sept. 22), the WBCA will share history, facts and statistics on suffrage in the U.S., and the importance of voting to help with conversations coaches are having with their teams. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@WBCA1981), and turn on your notifications so that you don't miss these daily updates.
Voting Resources
- Ballotready.org (online voter guides)
- Coaches4Change.org (@Coaches4Change)
- National Voter Registration Day (Sept. 22, 2020)
- RISE
- RISE Voter Education Toolkit (downloadable PDF)
- RockTheVote.org
- SAVE Alliance (@athletesvote)
- Turbovote.org
- UniteTheVoteChallenge.com
- usa.gov/voting
- Vote.gov (an official website of the United States government)
- Vote.org
Who Can and Can’t Vote in U.S. Elections?
(according to usa.org/voting)
You must be a U.S. citizen to vote in federal, state or local elections.
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Who Can Vote?
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Who Can't Vote?
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You can vote in U.S. elections if you:
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Check with your state or local election office for any questions about who can and cannot vote.
Action Items for Coaches and Teams
Fill out the 2020 Census
The goal of the census is to count every person living in the United States, once, only once and in the right place. Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution mandates that this population and housing count occur every 10 years. Census data guide how more than $675 billion of federal funding is distributed to states and communities each year. Click here for more information about the 2020 Census.
Commit to 100% Team Voter Registration
Commit to a 100% voter registration with your team and with your staff. Post it on social media, tag @WBCA1981 and use the hashtag #WBCASocialJustice. Challenge other teams and coaches to get their teams to 100% voter registration.
Vote Together
Absentee ballots and mail-in voting deadlines vary from state to state. Work with your team and pick a day where everyone will mail in their ballots or go to a polling booth together to vote.
Learn & Educate Together
After registering to vote, educate yourself on the candidates that you are voting for as a team.
- Attend in-person or digital speaking events.
- Read voter guides.
- Volunteer at a local polling booth.
- Watch national, state, and local debates.
- Watch the national conventions.
Deadlines and Websites by States
(according to vote.org)
Voter registration deadlines downloadable PDF
Voting election websites downloadable PDF
Absentee ballot deadlines downloadable PDF
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State
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State Voter Registration Site
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Voter Registration Deadlines
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Absentee Ballot Application Deadline
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Voted Absentee Ballot Deadline
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Alabama |
Alabama Votes – The State of Alabama’s Official Election Center |
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Postmarked 1 day before Election Day, received by noon on Election Day |
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Alaska |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received 10 days after Election Day. |
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Arizona |
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Received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. |
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Arkansas |
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Election Day. |
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California |
California Secretary of State – Elections and Voter Information |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received within 3 days of Election Day. |
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Colorado |
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Received by Election Day. |
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Connecticut |
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Election Day. |
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Delaware |
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Received by Election Day. |
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District of Columbia |
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Election Day. |
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Florida |
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Received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. |
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Georgia |
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Election Day. |
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Hawaii |
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Received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. |
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Idaho |
Idaho Secretary of State’s Office – Elections, Campaign Disclosure and Lobbyists |
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Received by 8 p.m. Election Day. |
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Illinois |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received by 14 days after Election Day. |
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Indiana |
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Received by noon on Election Day. |
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Iowa |
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Postmarked one day before Election Day and received 6 days after Election Day. |
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Kansas |
State of Kansas Office of the Secretary of State – Elections |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received 3 days after Election Day. |
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Kentucky |
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Received by 6 p.m. Election Day. |
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Louisiana |
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Received by 4:30 p.m. day before Election Day (most voters). Election Day (hospitalized voters). |
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Maine |
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Received Election Day. |
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Maryland |
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Postmarked on or before Election Day and received by 10 a.m., 10 days after Election Day. |
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Massachusetts |
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Elections Division |
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Received Election Day. |
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Michigan |
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Received Election Day. |
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Minnesota |
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Postmarked by Election Day, and received up to 7 days after Election Day if mailed, or by 3 p.m. on Election Day if delivered in person. |
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Mississippi |
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Received by 5 p.m., 1 day before Election Day (by mail); Received 3 days before Election Day (in person). |
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Missouri |
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Received Election Day. |
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Montana |
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Received 8 p.m. Election Day. |
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Nebraska |
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Received Election Day. |
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Nevada |
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Postmarked on or before Election Day. |
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New Hampshire |
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Received by 5pm Election Day. |
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New Jersey |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received within 48 hours of polls closing. |
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New Mexico |
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Received 7 p.m. Election Day. |
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New York |
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Postmarked 1 day before Election Day and received 7 days after Election Day. Voted ballots can also be turned in by hand on election day. |
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North Carolina |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received by 3 days after Election Day. |
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North Dakota |
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Postmarked 1 day before Election Day. |
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Ohio |
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Postmarked 1 day before Election Day and received 10 days after Election Day. |
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Oklahoma |
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Received by 7 p.m. Election Day. |
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Oregon |
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Received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. |
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Pennsylvania |
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Received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. |
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Rhode Island |
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Received 8 p.m., Election Day. |
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South Carolina |
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Received 7 p.m., Election Day. |
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South Dakota |
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Received Election Day. |
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Tennessee |
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Received Election Day. |
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Texas |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received by the day after Election Day. |
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Utah |
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Postmarked 1 day before Election Day and received 6 days after Election Day. |
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Vermont |
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Received Election Day. |
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Virginia |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received by noon 3 days after Election Day. |
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Washington |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received 5 days after Election Day. |
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West Virginia |
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Postmarked by Election Day and received by 6 days after Election Day. (Ballots with no postmark will be counted if received by 1 day after Election Day.) |
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Wisconsin |
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Received 8 p.m., Election Day. |
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Wyoming |
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Received 7 p.m., Election Day. |