When I was first eligible to vote in November of 2008, I didn't. Politics never interested me, I never watched any debate, I knew nothing about the candidates, and I didn't feel confident voting on such little information.

No one had ever explained the process to me, I didn't know what kind of sources I could trust, and I had no understanding of how valuable my vote was.

Don't be me!

Nowadays there are amazing resources available for first-time voters and voting veterans alike. This voter's guide was written by my s/o as a compilation of resources to help anyone with questions get quick and easy answers!

Sharing and/or reposting this guide is 100% allowed.

Why should I vote?
• Voting is your voice and the most powerful tool as a US citizen. This extends to not just choosing a president but also your senators, your representatives, your mayor, funding for local schools, and much more. Nearly every facet of government is subject to your vote and your approval. Use it!
“If you don’t vote, you lose the right to complain.” – George Carlin

How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
• Easy! You can check if you are registered at “Can I Vote”(https://www.nass.org/can-I-vote/voter-registration-status). A nonpartisan website created by state election officials to help eligible voters figure out how and where to go vote. Simply select your state and enter you first and last name, date of birth, and maybe your zip code.

How do I register to vote?
• 40 states currently offer online voter registration. Using “Can I Vote”(https://www.nass.org/can-I-vote/voter-registration-status), simply click “Register To Vote” and it will guide you to your state’s voter registration website where you can register.
• For those in states that don’t allow online registration, the same link can guide you to filling out a short registration form to then mail to your state’s election offices.

What’s the deadline to register to vote?
• VERY SOON!
• Many states’ deadlines to register are a month before the general election which is less than a week away! If you’ve missed the registration deadline, some states still allow voter registration in-person up until the election. Check here to see your state’s deadline and policies. https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/

How do I vote?
• Every state’s election rules are different and are changing rapidly. Check with Vote.org to see your state’s rules.
• As of this post, all but seven states allow some form of mail-in voting. (Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas). You may need to request a ballot so check the Vote.org link above.
• Nine states + DC mail ballots directly to registered voters. You can fill these out immediately and drop them off at an election office or in the mail. (California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington)
• For those that prefer voting in-person, a lot of states allow early in-person voting. Check here for your state’s times and locations. (https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/)
• Election Day in-person voting times can be found here. (https://ballotpedia.org/State_Poll_Opening_and_Closing_Times_(2020)

Who/what am I voting for?
• Check [HERE] to see what races you will be voting in. (https://www.vote411.org/ballot)

How do I choose who/what to vote for?
• Some states, especially those with prominent mail-in voting, typically send out voter guides where you can read more about the candidates and referendums.
• Organizations such as Planned Parenthood, ACLU, NRA, etc. also send out pamphlets showcasing their endorsements in the mail. You can use these as a guideline for how to vote if you value a specific organization highly.
• Ballotpedia.com is a nonprofit, independently run wiki dedicated to displaying as much information as possible on all races in every state. You can view candidates’ stances, what they’ve previously voted for, their statements, who’s endorsing them, and even who’s donated to their campaign.

Know your rights.
• Check your ballot status on your state’s election website or “Can I Vote”. (https://www.nass.org/can-I-vote)

A full list of voting rights can be found on the ACLU website. (https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/voting-rights/). Here’s a few important rights to remember:
• If the polls close while you’re still in line, stay in line – you have the right to vote.
• Under federal law, all polling places for federal elections must be fully accessible to older adults and voters with disabilities. Simply allowing curbside voting is not enough to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements.
• It’s illegal to intimidate voters and a federal crime to “intimidate, threaten, [or] coerce … any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of [that] other person to vote or to vote as he may choose.”
• If you experience anything that you feel is inhibiting you from voting you can give a sworn statement to a poll worker and/or call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (enEspañol). You can also contact your local election officials directly HERE. (https://www.usa.gov/election-office)

When is the election?
• Tuesday November 3rd.