Photo Credit: Getty Images
At Shine, we've been talking about the many dramatic, inspiring, humorous and flat-out entertaining campaign efforts.
But most importantly, we want to make sure that your voices are heard. And that every single vote counts.
Scroll through our checklist to ensure that you're in prime voting form before you head to the polls on Tuesday.
- Are you registered to vote? If you're not registered to vote, you're in a pickle. Only a handful of states allow you to register at the polls on voting day. To find out if you are registered to vote, contact your county elections office. Stat.
- Have you turned in your absentee ballot? Every state has different deadlines for the submission of absentee ballots. If you haven't mailed your absentee ballot yet, your safest bet is to hand delivering your vote. The League of Women Voters is a fantastic resource and has a tool that will let your check the absentee voting instructions and deadlines for each state. Please double check what you need to do to make sure your vote counts!
- Do you know where your polling place is located? On Election Day, there is nothing worse than going to a polling place and finding out you can't vote because you're at the wrong location. Before you head out the door to vote, confirm your polling place. You can use Yahoo's nifty polling place tool to find out if you're headed in the right direction.
- Did you take off your political gear? Of all days, this is the one time you really want to roll wearing your "Vote [Insert Candidate's Name or Measure Here]" t-shirt. Just cover it up with a sweater when visit your polling place to vote. According to Smart Voter (also from the League of Women Voters), most states do not allow you to "campaign for a candidate or ballot measure within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling location." You can check with your state's election laws to confirm, but you could also just leave your signs, flags, hats, buttons and general political gear behind while you vote. It'll only be a few minutes.
- Do you have your identification card/driver's license with you? If you're a first-time voter, you'll definitely be asked to show some identification at the polls. But just to be safe, everyone should bring a form of ID.
- Can you carpool or walk to your polling place? It's a big day and you want to get to your polling place in a hurry. But you can still be eco-friendly in the process. Go vote with a friend or family member and spare the air.
