The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Get Ready for Election Day

Feature Story by Jenna Wandres - 10/30/2008

Election Day hasn't arrived yet, but newspapers across the country are already filled with ominous headlines about problems early voters are facing at the polls.  While civil rights advocacy groups are working hard to minimize these occurrences, you can help to protect your rights and have a smooth voting experience by arriving at the polls prepared and informed of your state's voting requirements. Here are a few things you can do to prepare:

Vote Early to Avoid Long Lines
Strong get-out-the vote efforts have resulted in a larger number of registered voters than ever before, especially among young people, Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans.  More people at the polls translates to longer lines and greater chances of machine and human errors. 

Although some states only allow you to vote absentee or early if you have a valid reason for not being able to vote on Election Day, nearly 30 states allow you to vote early without giving a reason. While it is too late to mail in an absentee ballot in most states, you may be able to cast an in-person absentee ballot at your local election office. The requirements vary by state, so check with your state elections office or visit GoVote.org for more information.

Know Your Polling Place
Before you leave to vote, make sure you know your correct polling place, as the location may have changed since the previous election. Visit GoVote.org to confirm your voting location. 

What to Bring to Your Polling Place
You should also check your state's voter identification requirements. Some states only require signature verification, but others require some or all voters to present a photo ID when voting.. The types of identification that qualify vary by state, so check GoVote.org to find ID requirements for your state.

What to Wear to Your Polling Place
Voters' clothing is also a cause for scrutiny in some states.  Rules against electioneering or campaigning in polls is universal, however, states interpret this restriction differently.  In some areas, you are not allowed to wear any election paraphernalia such as t-shirts, buttons or stickers to the polling place. Check with your local election office to find out any restrictions -- or if you aren't sure of requirements, be prepared to remove any buttons if asked, and bring along a jacket in case you need to cover your campaign T-shirt. 

Stay In Line
Polls will be busy on Election Day, so plan ahead in case you need to wait in line for a while. If you vote late in the day and are still waiting in line at the official poll closing time, don't give up. Generally, anyone waiting in line when the poll closes will be allowed to cast a ballot.

If you do have any problems with voter registration or voting, you can call the Election Protection Coalition hotline toll free at 1-866-OUR VOTE, or visit them on the web at www.866ourvote.org.