It’s November 2nd. Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd is tomorrow.

You’ve heard all about how to vote by mail, the how-tos of early voting, what voter suppression is and how to avoid it, and much more from us at V and our Thought Leaders. And yet we still cannot emphasize enough how important it is for each and every one of us who is able to go out and vote, to exercise that right. If not for yourself, then for marginalized communities and for the generations to come, as the threats of the climate crisis and racial injustice put all of our lives at stake.

If you’ve already cast your ballot at early voting stations, by absentee ballot and mail-in voting, or however else, thank you. If you or your loved ones have yet to vote, tomorrow is Election Day, the last day you have to vote in-person in this monumental election.

If you’re waiting to get to the polls tomorrow, we’re here to help you make that plan. If you’re still unsure of whether or not you’ll vote, here’s a sign from us that you absolutely should. Look here to read more on the importance of voting.

Voting on Election Day: The Plan

Times

Ensuring that you have permission from your work to go out and vote tomorrow (and if they don’t let you at first, emphasize that it is your constitutional right), find a time that works best for you, because it might be a little bit of a wait (see: voter suppression).

Poll times vary by state and county, so check with your local polling station to double check what time frame you can vote in. Ballotpedia lets you know the opening and closing times as well as what sort of ID you should bring.

What to Bring

Before heading to the polls, you’ll want to know exactly what you should bring, which also, you guessed it, varies by state and county. Certain states hold strict voting laws about what sort of ID you need, some require Photo IDs and some are more lenient, so look here to find your state’s guidelines on IDs, and make sure you have those with you tomorrow.

In terms of practical things to bring, a bottle of water, a snack, a mask, your phone, and some hand sanitizer are essentials. Be careful with those around you, stand six feet apart if you can, and wear your mask at all times. Depending on wait times, you won’t want to bring that much, in case it wears you out.

It might sound silly, but wear comfortable clothes and shoes in case you have to wait awhile. No one wants anyone to go to the polls, get tired of waiting, and then leave before even casting their ballot. Take a book or some small form of entertainment if you think this might apply to you.

Wait Times and Other Issues

Speaking of long wait times, if the polls close while you were waiting in line, you still have a right to cast your ballot, and make this known. However, arriving super early and checking wait times online is not a bad way to go.

If anyone tries to turn you away at the polls or you witness anyone else being intimidated at the polls in an attempt to discourage you or others from voting, you can report it to the Election Protection hotline at 1-866-687-8683.

Naturally. there is a lot of stress that comes with voting tomorrow, and things tend to go wrong, If there are any issues with your ballot, try to fix any problem at the polls rather than leaving and coming back. Leaving or stepping out of your place in line could affect when you’re able to vote. Voting is a monumental effort, so you want to see it all the way through.

Summary

Plan out your trip tomorrow to the polls tonight, look up the proper poll location near you, check the times during which you can voting, plan your route and pick a reasonable time to go. Wear a mask and bring water and snacks. Dress comfortably, and figure out the exact type of ID you need to be able to vote in your county, and bring it with you. See it through. 

We need everyone to make it to the polls if they can and cast their ballots. Go over this with yourself and your loved ones multiple times. Set an alarm tomorrow, and cast your vote. You’ve got this, voters!