ADHD Weekly, September 19, 2024

Are you feeling anxious or confused about the upcoming election? If navigating your state’s voting system seems like an impossible task this fall, you are not alone.

A recent study by the National Institutes of Health revealed that adults with ADHD are less likely to actively seek out political information. Is that because people with ADHD aren’t invested in the results of political elections? Quite the contrary. The NIH also found that ADHD adults are typically more actively involved but are more passive in gathering information.

Elected officials can have direct impacts on medication shortages, healthcare coverage related to ADHD, education policies, and ADHD stigma in the community. Many voters, however, find registering to vote, knowing when and where to vote, and understanding the actual voting process complicated, to say the least. In addition, voting requirements vary by state. It is no wonder that adults with ADHD encounter barriers to voting. As regulations have actively changed over the past few years, the upcoming election may have become even less ADHD-friendly than in previous years.

Combining the complexity of election regulations with time blindness, avoidance procrastination, overwhelm paralysis, and simply getting sidetracked, can result in insurmountable hurdles for adults who have ADHD.

So how do you move past this and ensure your voice is heard this November?

Check your registration status in two minutes.

1. Navigate to Vote.gov.
2. Select your state of residence.
3. If you are uncertain of your registration status, scroll down to the “How to Check Your Voter Registration Status” section.
4. If you need to register, make sure you are aware of any upcoming voter registration deadlines. In-person, by mail, and online registration deadlines vary by state, and many are coming up soon. You can check registration deadlines for all US states. Registration deadlines vary widely by state, with residents of Hawaii, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Washington able to register in-person up to the day of the election, while residents of Georgia must register by the fifth Monday before election day (October 7 this year). Some states, such as Arkansas, do not allow online registration. While others, such as North Dakota, do not require registration. This information will be on your state of residence page.
5. If you need to register or update your registration, locate the “How to register and update your registration” at the top of your state page. Checking your registration takes less than two minutes.
6. If you miss your voter registration deadline or your voter eligibility is not able to be determined on Election Day, most states will allow you to complete a Provisional Ballot. Provisional ballots will only be counted if election administrators are able to verify voter eligibility after the election. As of March 2024, Idaho and Minnesota do not provide provisional voting. State by State Provisional Ballot Laws provides specific information for your state.

Register to vote.

1. Register to vote by following your state specific link above or going to Register to Vote.
2. Overseas and military voters can go to OverSeasVoteFoudation.org.
3. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony can go to Restore Your Vote to determine your eligibility to vote.

Create a voting plan.

1. Know your options to cast a ballot. States vary by the availability of absentee ballots (vote by mail), early voting, and in-person voting locations.
2. Click on your state of residence on the map from the United States Election Assistance Commission.
3. Determine if you are eligible for an absentee ballot, if you prefer early voting options, or if you prefer to vote in-person on Election Day.

Absentee. Every state must provide a method for some voters to cast a ballot without physically appearing in person. However, the eligibility requirements vary widely by state. Some states will automatically send absentee ballots to all eligible voters, while other states require you to request an absentee ballot by submitting an application. Twenty-eight states offer “no excuse” absentee voting, meaning you can request an absentee ballot without any excuse, reason, or hardship. You can check if you live in a no-excuse state online. States that require an eligible excuse to vote absentee are also listed online. All states are required to send absentee ballots to military members and overseas voters for federal elections. For a full list of application procedures by state, visit Ballotpedia.org. Visit your state specific page for absentee applications, if necessary. Each state also has varying Absentee Ballot Rules regarding the documents required to include in your ballot, witness signatures, postage, mailing/drop off deadlines and requirements, and identification information. Be sure to read your absentee ballots carefully.

Early Voting. As of August 2024, forty-seven states, DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands have early voting options. Only Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not. Determine your state’s early voting options.

In-Person. On Election Day, November 5, you will need to travel to your assigned polling place. Polling places can change year to year. Confirm your polling place prior to Election Day using the polling place locator. Be sure to check polling place hours as well. As seen in recent years, some polling locations have had increasingly long lines and wait times. If you are able vote early, you may be able to avoid these lines and have more flexibility with the date and time you vote. Voting on Election Day may require more advanced planning to consider time off work, arranging child/elder care, and transportation. Some states designate Election Day as a holiday or require employers to provide Paid Time Off (PTO) for their employees to vote, while most do not. Check out your state’s requirements and your rights. Speak with your employer about specific questions and policies.

Arrange the details for voting at a polling place (early or on election day)

Voter ID. Thirty-six states have laws regarding showing some form of voter identification at the polling station. States also vary in whether they require photo or non-photo ID. Most states with strict voter ID requirements do allow for some exceptions. Check your state’s voter identification laws online.

Dress Code. Based on your state, your polling location may have a dress code as well. In certain states it is illegal to endorse a candidate while at the polls, including buttons, shirts, or hats. To ensure you are not turned away, check out all electioneering prohibitions before going to the polls.

Transportation. If transportation to a polling location may be a concern, check out Lyft, Lime scooters and e-bikes, along with your local mass transit company for discounted rates or free transportation to and from polling locations. In prior elections, transportation companies provided free or discounted rates for early voting dates through Election Day.

Avoid the Lines. Although trends will vary by state and polling location, it may be possible to minimize wait times by voting mid-morning (10-11 AM) after the rush of early morning voters and mid-afternoon (2-4 PM). Early morning when the polls open, lunch time, and late afternoon (after 5 PM) tend to be the busiest voting times. Remember, you can only vote at your assigned polling location, so you are not permitted to travel to another location with a shorter line.

Curbside Voting. Some states allow curbside voting for individuals with disabilities, allowing them to avoid standing in line. However, twenty-three states do not. Specific information and requirements on curbside voting can be found on your county’s board of election website.

Check out your sample ballot. Ballots in November may include local elections, state elections, and ballot measures, in addition to the presidential election, depending on where you live. Do your homework ahead of time to see what will be on your ballot by visiting Sample Ballot Lookup. Knowing what to expect, and who you plan to vote for, will prevent a sense of overwhelm when showing up to a polling location and facing a ballot with twenty-five candidate races without prior knowledge. You can find a consolidated list of information for each candidate and ballot measures for your election at Vote411.org (some information may not be updated until closer to Election Day). However, you are not required to complete the entire ballot. Leaving candidate races blank is called “undervoting” and will not cancel or disqualify your ballot.

Voting is one of your most important rights as an American citizen. Voting can also feel overwhelming with the need to keep track of so many specific dates, voting processes, and eligibility requirements.

Take four minutes today to determine (a) if you are registered to vote, and if not, (b) your registration deadline. Time yourself or find a body double to support and motivate you. Bookmark this article and come back to the links as you move through your voting plan checklist.