You’ve probably heard this a lot lately- you need to make a plan to vote. Some people will laugh at this, but they shouldn’t.
It seems pretty simple if you live in a rural area. You probably have your own car, your polling place has been in the same location for as long as you can remember, and the lines at the polls are never long. You probably know some of the poll workers and might even be related to one of them.
Maybe you live in a urban area. If you need to take public transportation that can complicate things. If the lines are often 2+ hours long at your polling place that can complicate things. If you’re unsure of your polling place that complicates things.
Maybe you’ve never voted before, or you haven’t voted in a long time. Many states allow in person registration at the polls, but not all. So it’s important to understand what you need to do to be able to cast your vote.
Maybe you’ve recently moved and/ or changed your name. You need to know how to update your registration and if you can do it in person at the polls or if you need to do it ahead of time.
Maybe you are in controlling or abusive relationship with someone who tries to control your vote or keep you from voting altogether. Please know it is illegal for anyone to come into the voting booth with you or to “review” your ballot before you cast it. Secret voting is your right. Poll workers should step in if anyone tries to tell you otherwise.
And ALL of us should prepare ourselves before going to the polls. We need to research the candidates up and down the ticket (not just on the top) to ensure you are voting for the people who represent your views and opinions. And no, just voting a straight ticket isn’t preparing yourself. At best it’s naïve, at worst it’s just lazy.
So, what’s your plan to vote?