Tips to Enhance Your Voting Experience

from: Jessica Myers on Jun 21, 2012

The following suggestions may help enhance your voting experience. For more information, visit www.eac.gov or contact your state or local election office.

1. Register to Vote: If you are not registered to vote you must apply for voter registration no later than the deadline to register in your state. You should check the website of your state or local elections office for information on the deadline and to obtain a voter registration application. The National Voter Registration Application form is available at www.eac.gov.

2. If you are already registered to vote: Confirm your voter registration status with your state or local election office before the last day to register to vote. This will allow you to make any changes to your registration (e.g., name, address, etc.) in sufficient time to vote on Election Day.

3. Polling Place location: Confirm your polling place location and ensure your ability to cast a ballot on Election Day.

4. Voter Identification Requirements: Some states may require I.D. in order to vote at the polling place on Election Day. If you discover you do not have the necessary identification, contact your state or local election office before Election Day.

5. Early Voting: Some states allow voters to vote in person before Election Day. Find out if your state has Early Voting or in-person Absentee Voting and if so when and where you can vote before Election Day.

6. Absentee Voting requirements: Check on the dates and requirements for requesting and returning an absentee ballot before Election Day. Absentee ballots are available many weeks before the election, but often must be returned prior to Election Day.

7. Polling Place Hours: Make sure you know what time your polling place is open on Election Day. Early morning, lunch time and immediately after work are usually the busiest times at a polling place.

8. Polling Place Accessibility: If you are a voter with special needs or specific concerns due to a disability, contact your local election office for information, advice, educational materials about voting equipment and details about parking and access to the polling place.

9. Military Voting: If you are a Military or Overseas voter you may submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Please make sure you do so far in advance of Election Day to insure your ballot is received in time to be counted.

10. Social Media: If you use social media (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.), determine if your local election office or Secretary of State is online. You may be able to obtain information about upcoming elections.

If you have additional information or questions, please contact Jessica Myers at jmyers@eac.gov or via Twitter (@EACgov).

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