By John J. Sweeney
As the most important election of our lifetime gets closer—in terms of days ticking by and polls narrowing—make sure you and the people around you are ready to vote. Here's a handy checklist from our My Vote My Right project. You may want to print it out and share it with family and friends:
/_/ Know where to go. Call the local elections office to check the location of your polling place. Sometimes polling places are changed, and voting in the wrong location could mean your vote won't be counted.
/_/ Vote early if you can. Many states allow early and absentee voting. Take advantage of this opportunity if you can. The huge upsurge in new voter registrations this year may mean long lines at the polls. Voting early or by absentee ballot also will allow you to spend Election Day as a volunteer poll worker or getting out the vote.
/_/ Take identification. Rules vary by state, but be safe: Take a photo ID with you to the polls—preferably a government-issued ID such as a driver's license. If you don't have an official photo ID, at least take something official showing your name and address, like a bank statement or utility bill.
/_/ Play it safe with buttons, T-shirts, caps and the like. Avoid problems. Don't wear clothing or accessories that support or oppose any candidate or party, or make sure you can remove or cover them up if you’re required to do so before you can vote.
/_/ Ask for help if you need it. Many states allow you to take a helper with you to vote (as long as it's not a representative of your employer or your union) if you have a disability or need other assistance. Poll workers are there to help also, if you have questions or make a mistake on your ballot. My Vote My Right and other voting rights advocates will be on hand in many polling places as well.
/_/ Use a real ballot if you can. If there's a question about your eligibility to vote in the polling place you go to, you may be offered a provisional ballot. Ask if you can vote using a regular ballot if you provide additional ID or go to a different polling place. Vote using a provisional ballot if you cannot get a regular ballot.
/_/ Call for help if you think your rights are being violated. If you think your voting rights are at stake, ask to speak with the chief election official or a voting rights protection volunteer at the polls. If you still have concerns, a nationwide network of attorneys and voting rights specialists are ready to help. Call toll free 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).
/_/ Stay in line until you vote. Even if you face a long line—even if you're in line when the polls are supposed to close—stand your ground and cast your vote.
The presidential election and key Senate, congressional, state and local elections are going to be close—every vote matters. Each day we're seeing new attempts by Republican operatives to suppress votes—treating the high volume of new voter registrations as a threat rather than the triumph of democracy it is. And each day we hear disgusting new smear and fear tactics coming from the McCain-Palin campaign. Don't let anyone or anything turn you or the people you care about away. Your vote is your voice. It's your right.
Paid for by the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Political Contributions Committee,
www.aflcio.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
