Make a Plan to Vote!

If you have the opportunity to vote early in person, do it! When you vote early:

• You can vote at a time that works for you and your schedule.
• You can do your future self a favor by crossing voting off of your to-do list.
• You can vote when it is top-of-mind, instead of risking that you’ll get sidetracked by childcare issues, school work, work projects, or other last minute problems on Election Day.
• The lines are shorter (or gone entirely!).
• You can support your local election officials by reducing crowds at polling locations on Election Day.
• If you don’t have an acceptable ID (if needed in your state), you have time to go back and get a regular ballot versus a provisional one and have to cure it.

Find out what options you have to vote early in your state. 

Your early voting location may differ from your Election Day voting options. Find your early voting location. 

Where you vote is determined by where you live and your early voting location can be different from where you would vote on Election Day. Each person lives in a precinct – that’s what we call a neighborhood that corresponds with a particular voting location. Your friend might vote at one polling location and you might vote at another if you don’t live near each other (and even if you do!). 

Your voting locations may also change year-to-year so make sure to confirm your voting options as we approach early voting periods. In some cases, there may be fewer locations that allow early voting but voters are sometimes able to use any of them (regardless if they’re closer to work or home). Usually, voters must use their assigned polling location if voting on Election Day, though. 

Find your early voting and election day polling locations in your community and make a plan to cast your ballot.

The best time to vote in person is ahead of Election Day. If you’re able to vote early in person, lines will be shorter and you can vote when it’s convenient for you. Be mindful that polling places may have different hours and locations for early voting and Election Day. 

If you are voting on Election Day, look up when your polling location opens and closes. If you plan to vote later in the day, make sure to double check your polling location’s hours so you don’t show up too late by accident. If you are in line by the time the polls close, you can still vote – you have the right to stay in line as long as you need to. Bring anything you might need to wait in line — like water, snacks, a voter guide or a folding chair — and make sure your phone is charged before you show up.

If you experience any issues while voting in-person, including intimidation or other barriers to the ballot box, call or text the 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) hotline to connect with a trained, nonpartisan Election Protection volunteer.

It’s a good idea to bring your photo ID to vote in-person. Many states require identification in order to cast a ballot. Some require government-issued photo ID. Others give you options to prove your identity in other ways, including by signing a form confirming your identity. Check the rules for your state and specific kinds of ID you can use at VoteRiders.

If you show up to your polling place without your ID and your state requires one, or if the poll workers won’t accept your ID, ask if you can vote with a “provisional ballot.” With a provisional ballot, you can vote, but your ballot will be kept separate and will not be counted unless you can confirm your identity by showing up with an acceptable ID. You will have a certain number of days to provide your elections office with an acceptable ID after Election Day, so make sure you get instructions on how and when to do that.

If you have any questions about what ID to take to the polls or need help in obtaining an acceptable ID to vote, you can call or text VoteRiders at 866-ID-2-VOTE or you can chat with them through their chatbot.

If anything prevents you from voting, you should call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to get guidance from trained, nonpartisan Election Protection volunteers about how to move forward. Election Protection can support you if:

• You don’t have an acceptable form of required ID. 
• You forgot to bring your required ID.
• You don’t show up on the registration list.
• You showed up to the wrong polling location.
• Your polling location is not accessible. 
• You experience voter intimidation. 
• You encounter difficulties while attempting to vote. 

After seeking support from Election Protection volunteers, you can request a provisional ballot as a last resort if you are prevented from voting.

The Hotline also provides assistance in different languages: 

• Election Protection (Spanish): 888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682)
• Election Protection (Asian Languages): 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)
• Election Protection (Arabic): 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)

• At the polls: You have the right to vote, even if someone challenges your eligibility. Poll workers cannot turn you away from the polls. If you are denied the opportunity to vote for any reason, such as if your name does not appear in the poll book, demand a provisional ballot – a ballot that is only counted after the issue stopping you from voting can be resolved (for example, you can prove your eligibility or show an accepted form of voter ID before their deadline) .
• If you’re in line when polls close, stay in line. If you’re in line before your polling place closes, you have the right to vote, no matter how long the wait.
• Know your ID rules before you go: Voter ID requirements vary by state. Check what your state asks for at your official state or local election website so you arrive with what you need. If you’re asked for more than your state requires, you can ask for help and still request a provisional ballot.
• If you’re approached or feel unsafe: Stay calm. You don’t have to answer questions about your citizenship or eligibility from anyone other than a poll worker. Document what happened if you can: what, where, and when. Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE.
• Spotting misinformation: If you see posts claiming polls are closed, voting rules changed, or your polling place moved, verify at your official state or local website first. Don’t share before you check.
• Questions about your eligibility or rights? You have the right to ask a poll worker for help, and the right to know what you’re entitled to. If you encounter pushback, call the Election Protection hotline before you leave

Voters often don’t know who is allowed to be at a polling place or what those people can and can’t do. Knowing this in advance makes it easier to tell the difference between someone doing their job and someone crossing a line.

• Poll workers (also called election officials or election officers) run the polling place. They check voters in, hand out ballots, answer questions, and manage the equipment. They are trained, official, and there to help. If a voter has a problem, a poll worker is usually the first person to ask.
• Poll watchers (also called poll observers or challengers) represent a political party, candidate, or organization. Their job is to observe, not to run the polling place. Most states allow them, but rules vary widely on who can serve, how many are allowed, and what they can do.
  • What they’re allowed to do: observe check-in and voting procedures, take notes, and in some states raise a good-faith challenge to a voter’s eligibility. A challenge must go through a poll worker or election official, never directly to the voter.
  • What they’re not allowed to do: campaign or display partisan materials inside the polling place, touch ballots or equipment, question voters directly, or intimidate, harass, or interfere with anyone voting. A challenged voter can typically still cast a provisional ballot.
• Poll greeters stand outside the polling place and hand out sample ballots or campaign literature. They must stay outside the no-campaigning zone (often marked, commonly within 100 feet of a polling place, but the distance varies by state). Additionally, what they are allowed to hand out or wear differs by state. Find your state’s rules here. 
• Law enforcement and federal presence at polling sites Rules governing federal personnel and law enforcement at polling locations depend strictly on whether they are armed law enforcement or civilian election monitors:
  • Armed Law Enforcement & Federal Agents
    • Allowed: Local police or sheriff’s deputies may only enter a polling place to respond to an active emergency or at the direct request of election officials.
    • Not Allowed: Armed federal agents, immigration enforcement military personnel, or law enforcement officers are legally prohibited from patrolling polling places, stationing themselves outside, or checking voter IDs/citizenship (18 U.S.C. § 592). Private armed militia groups are strictly prohibited from acting as security or law enforcement at polling sites.
  • DOJ Election Observers & Civil Rights Monitors
    • Allowed: Unarmed civilian attorneys and observers from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) are authorized to monitor polling sites to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws (such as ADA accessibility and language assistance).
    • Not Allowed: DOJ monitors are passive observers. They are prohibited from questioning voters, checking IDs, challenging eligibility, or interfering with election workers or ballot casting.

A provisional ballot is one that is counted after an election official confirms you are eligible to vote. Provisional ballots are there to make sure you aren’t excluded from the voting process if your eligibility to vote is deemed uncertain. They can also be referred to as “challenge ballots” or “affidavit ballots.” If you end up casting a provisional ballot, make sure you follow up with your local election office, because in some states, the burden falls on you to make sure your provisional ballot counts like a normal ballot. Here are some reasons you might need to request a provisional ballot:

• You don’t have an acceptable form of required ID. 
• You forgot to bring your required ID.
• You don’t show up on the registration list.
• You showed up to the wrong polling location.

Every eligible citizen, regardless of identity or location, has the constitutional right to cast a ballot in elections. There are a number of resources to support voters who face challenges at the polls based on their identity. Check out the following websites to find information.

• Overseas Voters
• Native Voters
• Student Voters
• Voters with Felony Convictions
• Voters with Disabilities
• Trans Voters

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by election information—some of it is misleading or even completely false. If something triggers a strong emotional reaction, mixes fact with opinion, or makes you question what you already know, it’s a good idea to double-check before you share or act on it.

Here are some tips to help you spot and stop misinformation:

• Slow down. Watch the full video or read the entire post before sharing.
• Check your feelings. If something makes you feel angry or afraid, pause. Ask yourself why someone might want you to feel that way.
  Look at the language. Is it full of ALL CAPS, exclamation points, or name-calling? That could be a red flag.
• Check the source. Who wrote or posted it? What are their credentials? Are they qualified to speak on the issue?
• Cross-check. Use fact-checking sites like PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, Snopes, or Reverse Image Search to verify claims.
• Use tools like Media Bias/Fact Check to understand the slant and reliability of news sources.
• Ask yourself: Is this account authentic? Do I trust their intentions?

Need trustworthy information about voting? Stick to official sources like:

• Your state or county election office website.
• The U.S. Election Assistance Commission
• Your Secretary of State’s site for accurate instructions
• Democracy Works’ How to Vote tools

Looking for info in Spanish? Check out:

• TVerifica (Telemundo)
• El Detector
• Factchequeado
• DDIA’s Latino-Focused Election Resources

Find key, essential voter information for how to vote in the United States in your preferred language, from the menu options below:

• Español (Spanish)
• ভোটার তথ্য (Bengali)
• 中文繁体 (Chinese Traditional)
• 中文简体 (Chinese Simplified)
• हिंदी (Hindi)
• ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi)
• 한국어 (Korean)
• Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
• Tagalog
• ووٹر معلومات (Urdu)

Voting at home is sometimes referred to as “voting by mail” or “absentee voting.” Each state has their own rules for its use, but generally, your ballot is delivered to your mailing address where you’ll fill it out at home (or wherever is convenient!). After, you’ll return it either by mail or drop it off to an elections office or a secure drop box. In some states, every voter is automatically delivered a ballot, some have a permanent list of voters who are delivered a mail ballot, and others require voters to request a mail ballot for each election—either providing a valid excuse or for any reason at all. No matter how it works in your state, it is a convenient way to cast your ballot and helps keep lines short at the polls for people who need to vote in person.

Each state determines its own vote at home laws and requirements. Broadly, voter eligibility falls into one of four categories listed below:

• Excuse required: Voters must provide a valid excuse from a list of reasons in order to vote at home. Each state has different standards for what qualifies as a valid excuse.
• No excuse required: Voters may request a ballot to be delivered for any reason but must renew that request for every election.
• Single sign-up: Voters can make a single request to receive automatic delivery of a ballot for every election.
• Universal: Voters are automatically delivered a mail ballot for every election, no action needed. If you live in a universal vote at home state, double check that you’re registered at the correct address to receive your mail ballot without a problem. 

Voting laws are constantly being updated, so make sure you have the most up-to-date information, and learn about the mail ballot rules in your state. If you are ineligible to vote at home this year because of your circumstance and/or state requirements, make a plan to vote in person.

We recommend that you request your mail ballot as soon as possible. Keep in mind: each state has their own timeline for sending out ballots, so you may not receive it right away (e.g., California mails them out 29 days before Election Day). Find out what you need to know to vote at home in your state.

Some states run “All-Mail Elections” and automatically deliver a ballot to all registered voters ahead of Election Day and others have a permanent list of voters who receive mail ballots. Check to verify your state’s model and confirm that your mailing address is up to date by checking your voter registration status. 

You may need an ID to request your mail ballot, depending on the rules in your state. Some states require you to provide a copy of your ID the first time you request a mail ballot while others may require an ID number every time you make a request. Check out the rules for your state. If you do not have access to a scanner or printer to copy your ID, VoteRiders can help you!

If you are requesting your ballot, make sure you are having it delivered to an address that you will be able to access before the election. The USPS cannot forward mail ballots. If you aren’t sure where you will be when your ballot is mailed, have it sent to a family member or a friend who can send it to you wherever you are. 

Many states have ballot tracking that can let you know the status of your ballot when it is sent to you, when it is arriving at your address, when it has been received back at the elections office, and when it has been accepted and counted. Check to see if ballot tracking is available where you vote.

The instructions for filling out your ballot can be located both on the outer envelope or actually on the ballot itself. Take time to read the instructions to ensure that your ballot gets counted. Be sure to follow the instructions about how to indicate your choice of candidates and what color ink to use. 

• An inner envelope may be provided. If the instructions tell you to seal it, do not forget to do so. 
• Make sure you fill in the entire bubble on your ballot – don’t check, or “x” the bubble.
• Stick to blue or black pen ink.
• Do not stain or tear your ballot or the envelope. Outside the areas you were told to mark or sign, there should be no stray writing or marks.

Your signature is critical to having your ballot counted! Election officials may be comparing your ballot against an old signature on file, such as the one on your driver’s license. If there is a discrepancy with your signature, most states will notify you to cure your ballot and have it counted.

Don’t use your “grocery store signature.” Use your official signature to make sure that your ballot is accepted and counted. 

Some states require a witness or notary signature for mail ballots. If the instructions on your ballot require a witness signature or a notary’s signature, don’t send it back without it! Learn more about the requirements in your state here and find a public notary. 

Voters who vote using a mail ballot may return that ballot by mail or by choosing from several in-person return options. If you plan on hand-delivering your ballot, here are some things to consider:

• Depending on the rules in your state, you may be able to drop your ballot off at a physical location. Options include returning your ballot at your polling place, your local election office, or a secure ballot drop box. 
• Different states have different deadlines for returning your ballot. The great thing about voting with a mail ballot is that you have flexibility about when to return your ballot. We recommend returning it well before Election Day, regardless of whether you are dropping it off in person or through the mail. This ensures that you meet the deadline and saves your election official time.
• Not all ballot return location data will be available until closer to the election. Find ballot drop off location options where you live.
• Otherwise, send it in the mail!
  • Drop your ballot in the mail as soon as you can. The USPS recommends mailing your ballot at least seven days before the deadline. Deadlines to return mail ballots vary state to state, but it’s a good rule of thumb to mail your ballots no later than 10 days before Election Day.
  • If your elections department does not offer postage-paid return envelopes, be sure to apply the correct postage.
  • Find out the deadline to return your ballot here. 

Some states have prepaid postage stamps, but many don’t. Check to see if you need to buy stamps in your state. You can find stamps at your local post office, and also at banks, pharmacies, gas stations, and book stores. You can also order stamps online. TIP: Buy a pack of stamps with your friends and share them! 

Typically, ballot return envelopes come pre-addressed. If yours doesn’t, here is a quick overview of how to address an envelope. It’s okay if your return address is different from the address where you registered to vote. Just make sure you will be able to access mail from your return address!

Just like you might be able to track your ballot en-route to you, many states have trackers that can let you know the status of your ballot as it makes its way back to your local election office. If your state doesn’t offer ballot tracking or if you notice that your ballot seems delayed, you can always contact your local election official.

If you find out that your ballot has been challenged or was rejected, or if you lose your mail ballot, you should contact your local election official. You can also call or text the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.

If you have issues voting at home, you can probably still cast a ballot in person. If you receive your ballot but want to vote in person or if you’ve already mailed your ballot and don’t think it’ll arrive in time to count, call your local election office to confirm instructions for voting in person.

Some states have a process called “ballot curing,” which gives you a set period of time to make corrections to your ballot so that it is counted. With ballot curing, your election office will contact you to let you know that you had a problem with your ballot. They will notify you of the process and timeline to make the correction. Check what the rules are in your state.

If you have issues voting at home, you can probably still cast a ballot in person. If you receive your ballot but want to vote in person or if you’ve already mailed your ballot and don’t think it’ll arrive in time to count, call your local election office to confirm instructions for voting in person.