A national patchwork of laws, rules and practices can make the voting process feel complicated at times. But those who run into issues shouldn’t give up.
“Don’t despair, just persist,” Ms. Pérez said. “People wait in line for iPhones and amusement park rides and things like that. This is a lot more important.”
Here’s a brief guide to help you prepare to cast your ballot.
Before you vote
Find out when and where to vote. In most states, polling places open at 6 or 7 a.m. and close at 7 or 8 p.m., but it’s important to check, as times can vary by location.
Avoid the lines. Because polling locations are generally busiest during the morning rush hour, at lunchtime and in the evening, those with flexible schedules might have better luck by voting very early, at midmorning or at midafternoon.
Research what to bring. About two-thirds of states expect residents to provide identification to vote, but requirements vary, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some states accept only photo IDs, while others accept alternatives. Some are strict, others more lenient. Voters who forget their IDs may still be allowed to vote using a provisional ballot.
First time voters who didn’t register in person or show ID before must show identification. This is according to federal law.
Read up on the ballot. It can be overwhelming to sift through all of the information and misinformation out there, but there are resources to help.
A good place to start is with state and local election offices, which often provide voter guides — with varying degrees of detail — online or by mail. Election officials often also publish sample ballots so voters know what to expect and can avoid confusion in the booth.
Several nonpartisan groups provide unvarnished voter information, too. Ballotpedia, a nonprofit encyclopedia written by a staff of researchers and writers, contains a wealth of information and maintains a sample ballot lookup. Similar tools are available through other organizations, including Vote411.org, Vote USA and BallotReady, to name a few. ProPublica, the nonprofit newsroom, maintains tools such as ElectionBot and Represent to help readers find information and articles on local issues and candidates.
Voters can also seek out endorsements from sources they trust, such as local newspapers, special interest groups and professional organizations.
At the polling place
Don’t be intimidated. The federal government and many states ban voter intimidation, which can take many forms. Examples include aggressively questioning an individual’s citizenship or qualifications to vote, falsely claiming to be an election official and spreading false information about voting requirements, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
To report intimidation, voters can notify local and state officials and call or text the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE or 888-VE-Y-VOTA in Spanish, or the Justice Department at 800-253-3931 and TTY line 877-267-8971.
Many states do allow certified poll monitors to observe the voting process, though. The monitors, who are trained, may have the authority to challenge a person’s voting qualifications, though they are not typically allowed to interact with individuals directly. A voter whose qualifications are challenged may still be allowed to vote after giving a sworn affidavit that they satisfy said qualifications.
Ask for help. Generally, election officials are prepared to accommodate the needs of all voters, including those with disabilities and those who need language assistance.
Voters with disabilities, for example, have the right to accessible polling places and voting booths; to bring a service animal into the polling place; to seek assistance from polling place workers; and to bring someone with them to vote, as long as that person is not an employer or union representative. See the EAC’s resources for voters with a disability.
Under federal law, more than 260 jurisdictions are required to provide some form of language assistance, according to the federal Election Assistance Commission. And many state and local jurisdictions do so on their own.
What do I actually do? If you’re curious to know what it is like to be at a polling station, just search for “voting machines” along with your state’s name on Google. This should give you ample material on the equipment at the station and how you’re expected to use it. If you don’t have the time, you can simply ask a poll worker who should help you navigate the station.
Stay in line. Advocates say that anyone in line to vote by the time the polls close should stick around. “As long as you are in line, you need to make sure that you stay and cast your ballot,” said Virginia Kase, the chief executive of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters.
Be thorough. Ballots can be confusing, so it’s important to read the directions, review the ballot and take your time. State and local election officials may provide sample ballots ahead of time so voters know what to expect and poll workers may be able to help, too.
Get a provisional ballot if necessary. Under federal law, nearly every state must provide provisional ballots to eligible voters denied access to the booth. While a handful of states are exempted, several offer the ballots anyway. And only three, Idaho, Minnesota and New Hampshire, offer none at all, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
If a voter fills out a provisional ballot, federal law also mandates that poll workers provide them with a piece of paper explaining what they need to do to have their ballot counted and how they can check if it has been counted.
“They need to demand that piece of paper and they need to check,” Ms. Pérez said.
Help, I still need more info!
Here are some helpful articles from reliable sources:
Even if you didn’t register to vote in time to vote in this year’s elections, register now anyway! It won’t help you this year, but it gets you ahead of the game for the next election so you’re ready to vote then. Do it now instead of procrastinating on it.
Can’t vote because you have to work?Check the laws in your state. Many states DO have laws that require employers to let you vote.
Can’t vote because you don’t have transportation?Lyft is currently offering rides free or at 50% off to anyone who needs to get to the polls. Uber is offering $10 off. Even many bike- and scooter-share companies are offering deals right now, and some cities (including Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, and Tampa) are making public transit free on voting day. And, chances are, you have friends who also need to vote, so see if you can carpool.
If you’re voting electronically, double, even triple-check every vote before submitting, even if you have an option to vote straight ticket. There have been cases where this doesn’t work as expected. If you can’t find your party candidate, make sure to check the next page as there have also been glitches (at least in my state) that push the Democratic candidate after the massive list of independent candidates.
If you’re voting on paper, check every side of every page to avoid missing any votes.
And most importantly, offer to take your friends, family, or co-workers with you to vote if they weren’t already planning to go.
i’m laughing so hard because they really put pennywise on the stairs in this promo image, making this movie look like some political drama that also just happens to star a clown
The law and order sound but the second beat is a clown honk
PastelGrandpa 
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