Know your rights when you go to vote
Voting in the upcoming midterm election is the way to make sure our voice is heard on issues that are important to us. And a big part of that is to know your rights when you go to vote.
So now that you have registered to vote, here are a few things to keep in mind for when you go to the polls on November 3, 2020.
- Show up to your designated polling place.
Use our voter information tool to help identify your exact polling location, voting hours, and other key information.
If once you arrive you are told that you are not on the list of registered voters, do not be discouraged. You are entitled to a provisional ballot.
After Election Day, election officials will investigate whether you are qualified to vote and if you’re registered. If you are, your provisional ballot must be counted.
- Bring your ID.
Voter ID laws vary by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver’s licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards. You can check the voter identification laws for your state here. Please note that first time voters may face additional requirements.
- Find out what is on your ballot.
The amount of information presented to you on voting day can make the process very overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be—you can always read up on your ballot in advance.
Use this tool to learn more about every candidate and referendum on your ballot so you can make an informed decision.
If you are not sure about an item, you can always skip it. Do not let doubt stop you from making your voice heard on the issues that matter to you.
- Make sure you know the laws around language help.
Under federal law, all voters who need help with or don’t read or speak English may get help in voting from a person of their choice, so long as this person is not the voter’s employer, or an agent of the employer or of the voter’s union. In some places trained bilingual pollworkers will be available to assist you.
- No one is allowed to intimidate you out of voting—and if they try, there are resources available to help you.
Voter intimidation refers to:
- aggressive questioning about voting qualifications
- people falsely presenting themselves as election officials
- false information about voting requirements
- harassment, especially targeting non-English speakers and voters of color
If you encounter any issues when casting your ballot, or feel like your rights were violated, call NALEO’s national bilingual hotline at 1-888-839-8682 (1-888-VE-Y-VOTA). They will help you resolve your dispute and report your claim.
