01
Before You Vote
- Confirm you're registered: check your state's Secretary of State website.
- Confirm your polling place. It may have changed since the last election.
- Check your state's ID requirements. They vary widely by state. Look it up on your Secretary of State website or the US Vote Foundation's state-by-state guide.
- Check polling hours. If you're in line by closing time, you still get to vote.
- Decide: in-person Election Day, early voting, or mail ballot?
02
If You're Voting by Mail
- Request your ballot early: check your state's deadline.
- Read the instructions fully before filling anything out.
- Sign exactly as you're registered. Mismatched signatures are a top reason ballots get rejected.
- Track your ballot if your state offers it.
- Know your return deadline. Postmark and receipt deadlines aren't the same thing.
03
What to Bring on Election Day
- Valid ID, if your state requires it.
- Your polling place address: don't rely on memory.
- Patience: bring water, a book, whatever gets you through a line.
- A sample ballot, if you filled one out ahead of time.
04
Know Your Rights at the Polls
- You have the right to vote if you're in line before polls close.
- You have the right to a provisional ballot if your eligibility is questioned.
- You have the right to ask for help if you need it.
- You have the right to vote free from intimidation or harassment.
- You can ask for a poll worker or supervisor if something feels wrong.
05
If Something Goes Wrong
- Not on the rolls? Ask for a provisional ballot. Don't just leave.
- Told you need ID you don't have? Ask about your state's exceptions or affidavit options.
- Witness intimidation or interference? Tell a poll worker, and beyond that, call 866-OUR-VOTE right from the polling place. Trained volunteers can help you in real time, not just after the fact.
06
After You Vote
- If you voted by mail, confirm your ballot was received and counted.
- Get results from official state or county sources, not social media.
- A delayed result isn't a suspicious one. Close races take time to count accurately.
Additional resources
US Vote Foundation (state-by-state ID and voting rules) · CanIVote.org (run by the National Association of Secretaries of State — registration, deadlines, and polling places by state)