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| Image: Cindy smiling with sunglasses and an "I Voted" sticker |
It’s voting time and lots of people are headed to actual, physical voting booths! I think early voting (mail-in or in-person) is the best voting for all the reasons I wrote in my last post, “Six Reasons to Vote Early.” But whether you’re voting early or on actual Election Day (November 5, 2024), let’s run through a quick checklist of things you should bring to the polls with you if you're voting in person.
Your ID
Rules may vary by state, so make sure you look up what you can use in your state. If you don’t have a driver’s license, I suggest bringing two forms just in case you run into any trouble. In my state of Missouri, you can use:
A non-expired Missouri driver license;
A non-expired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;
A non-expired United States passport; or
Another photo ID issued by the United States or Missouri which is either not expired or expired after the most recent general election.
If you don’t have any of those with you, you can cast a “provisional ballot” and you’ll get instructions on how to verify that they count your provisional ballot.
Check ahead of time with your state to see exactly what you'll need.
Your completed sample ballot
Our Missouri ballot is so long this time that would be hard to keep all my choices in my head. Research your choices ahead of time and bring in your sample ballot all filled out, so that you can keep that voting line moving! The League of Women Voters' voter info site at vote411.org can help you find out what's on your ballot if you didn't receive a sample in the mail.
Your patience
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| Image: Cindy wearing a "Dear person behind me" hoodie beside a sign that says "polling place." |
Even in early voting, lines are pretty long this year, especially around lunchtime when working folks hope to squeeze in. You might bring some water and a snack to help you be patient if you're skipping a meal to vote!
I voted at a library and picked up a graphic novel to pass the time. I also wore a calming sweatshirt to soothe the people behind me. It read, “Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it. love, the person in front of you.” It worked! They tapped me on the shoulder before I entered the room to tell me they liked it and took a picture.
Your values
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| Image: An image of Presiding Bishop Curry of the Episcopal Church with his quote, "The principle on which Christians must vote is the principle: 'Does this look like love of neighbor?'" |
If you're of voting age, you have had plenty of time to develop some values you live by even if you don't think about them a lot.
If you live your life with a code of kindness to others, respecting the constitution, feeding the hungry, caring for elders, protecting children, welcoming the stranger, and loving your neighbor, think about what your personal code specifically means for the issues in front of us which candidates will best reflect those values.
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| Image: A meme encouraging us to vote as if we have personal stakes in issues "because privilege has no place in an election, but empathy does." |
For instance, when I fill out my ballot, I consider…who will help protect children from gun violence? Who will preserve the Earth for our children? Who will increase the Child Tax Credit and SNAP (food stamps) benefits? Who will be fair and just toward immigrants? Who will provide reproductive healthcare to pregnant people if they need an abortion for physical and mental well-being? Who sees LGBTQ rights as human rights? Who will protect funding for global health? Who understands that Black lives matter? Who will help bring peace to nations instead of funding war?
A mask
I know, I know. People don’t like masking, but voting lines are no longer spaced out and these places are getting crowded! Not only is COVID-19 making a comeback in my area, but it's cold and flu season. I felt lucky I found a spare mask in my backpack because I didn’t anticipate being packed in with so many people.
Your phone/camera
Take a selfie, post it on social media, and send it to friends and family asking them to vote, too. It’s totally legal to use peer pressure to get your people to the polls.
Your friends and/or family
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| Image: Cindy and daughter sitting in the car wearing "I Voted" stickers |
Speaking of your friends and family, why not bring them with you? It helps with boredom and makes sure they get their vote counted, too. If you're a parent of minors, consider bringing your kids, so they can see what voting is like. Be a voter and raise a voter!
There you go! Double-check that you have all you need with you, especially that ID because it’s disappointing to be turned away at the polls only to wait in a longer line later. Good luck and thank you for being a voter!
Image: Book cover
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