The potential impact of this year’s Presidential election has made it so that staying silent is no longer an option, or in style. Continuing our “V is for Vote” series that launched back in 2020, V returns with its latest edition as photography duo Inez & Vinoodh gathered 17 of the boldest American designers from our fashion community to tell us why voting to preserve democracy is the absolute most important thing you can do this season. Throw on that cerulean sweater and get ready, because V is hitting the polls!

“If you don’t vote, then I don’t think you have the right to complain about the results. I’ve voted in every presidential election since I turned 18. This election feels so much more urgent than any other in modern history. On the one hand, you have a convicted felon who is actively trying to dismantle the systems of our democracy and on the other you have the first Black woman candidate. When you look at it like that, it’s really hard not to see the clear choice. The far right has taken us back decades in terms of reproductive rights. The Supreme Court is loaded with Trump appointees who are doing their best to personally profit off their positions while overturning settled rules of law like Roe v. Wade. I could go on and on. But I’ll just say this: I do not want to live in a world where the aforementioned convicted felon is allowed to do as he pleases because he’s been granted immunity by his little friends in black robes. To all first time voters: You are so lucky to get to make history! Make sure to research all of the other elections—your Congress people, your senators, your governors, hell, even your school board members. I always ask people I know who are more informed than I am what they know about any propositions that are on the ballot. When you’re as old as I am, it’s hard to believe that we are still fighting for abortion rights. We already did this. And we won. Now to be doing the entire thing all over again feels like déjà vu in the worst possible way. Every day there is another mass shooting in this country and we are so immune to them now, we can’t even remember them all. That is just insanity. No other country on earth has this problem. And finally, we have been destroying our planet for so long, and now it’s all catching up to us. And if we aren’t careful we won’t have a planet to even live on, never mind vote for president on.”

Lisa Eisner

READY TO VOTE? MAKE YOUR PLAN!

Register to vote & check your registration status!

Whether you just turned 18 or it has been a while since you voted, it’s always best to check your registration status by clicking here. If you are ready to register as a first-time voter, take the exciting step here by clicking here.

See What’s On Your Ballot!

It’s always best to preview a list of candidates for Federal, State, and Local offices to understand who and what will be on your ballot in this upcoming election. To see what will appear on the ballot, click here.

Check your poll opening & closing times!

Remember, voting is your constitutional right, so on Election Day (November 5), find a time that works best for you as poll times vary by state and county, so check with your local polling station. 

Here’s what identification you should bring to VOTE!

Certain states hold strict voting laws about what sort of ID you need, as some require simple photo ID and some are more lenient, so double check to find your state’s guidelines on identification, and make sure to bring those with you on Election Day (November 5).

Wait Times & Other Issues

On Election Day (November 5), arriving early and checking wait times online is crucial to avoid waiting in line too long. But in the chance that the polls close while you are waiting in line, you still have a right to cast your ballot and make this known. If anyone tries to turn you away at the polls (or you witness anyone else attempting to discourage you or others from voting), you can report it to the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683.

If there are any issues with your ballot, ask for help 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.

Not in town? Consider Absentee Voting!

To request your absentee ballot, you can complete this application online. Absentee ballot deadlines vary state by state, so double-check the deadlines, dates, and rules for your state when voting by mail.

This story appears in the pages of our upcoming V151 Winter 2024 issue: subscribe now to receive your copy before it hits newsstands in November!

Photography Inez & Vinoodh

Creative Director / Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan

Production John Nadhazi / Michael Gleeson (VLM Productions)

Lighting director Jodokus Driessen (VLM Studio)

Studio Manager / Art Director Marc Kroop (VLM Studio)

Digital technician Brian Anderson

Location Pier59 Studios