During the 2018 elections, 7 out of 10 Berks County REALTORS® voted, compared to just 46% of the general population. This a fact that we often remind elected officials of, particularly during the last real estate shutdown, and is part of the reason why our industry reopened while others remained closed until the county entered the green phase.
While 90% of our association membership is already registered to vote, if you are one of those 10%, it isn’t too late to get with the program. Registering to vote helps ensure that our voices weigh more heavily on elected officials at every level of government. You aren’t just voting for a candidate or a party – the very fact that you went out and voted makes the voice of real estate a little bit louder, and helps your association protect our industry.
By mail? In-person? Just vote. While there has been some discussion nationally about the safety of mail-in ballots, it’s important to note that Pennsylvania has safely allowed mail-in ballots for many years. Up until recently, you could only ask for one if you could provide a reason why you couldn’t make it to the polls. No-excuse mail-in ballots utilize the same secure system that absentee ballots always did, but they are available for any Pennsylvanian to apply for and use. All mail-in ballots in PA come in postage-paid envelopes, meaning that you won’t have to pay for the postage to send it back.
If you prefer voting in-person, the polls open at 7:00am on November 3rd. We didn’t see too much extra waiting in line due to COVID-19 safety procedures during the 2020 Primary in June, but it might be worth trying to avoid peak hours if you’re in a rush. Turnout for the general election is always higher, so it’s possible that you might be waiting in line for slightly longer than usual with new requirements for everyone to wash their hands, wash the voting machine screens, and follow whatever other COVID-19 safety measures that might exist in November. If you are in line before polls close at 8pm, you must be given a chance to vote, no matter how long the line is.
Regardless of your own preference, what is most important is that you remember to make sure your voice is heard on election day. Vote for those who stood up for you during this unprecedented crisis. Vote to make your community better. Vote to make your voice heard. Vote to stand up for the virtues that you believe in.
