Election Day Vote, know your Rights & Be Prepared!

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The India observer, TIO, NJ: With so many of our rights on the line in these elections, we know just how many countless hours of hard work that dedicated people like you have put in. Now, it’s finally time to vote for a democracy we can believe in and show elected officials what “We the People” means.

And just to make sure you have all the information in one place, we’ve gone ahead and made you this concise Election Day guide below. Screenshot, star, or save this email in your inbox so you can refer back to it.

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(For all you early voters out there, please share along this information to your friends, family, and anyone else you know who might need it. Nothing better than voters helping voters, right?)

Adam’s Election Day Guide

1. Know Your Rights on Election Day:

• If the polls close while you’re still in line, stay in line. You have the right to vote.
• If you make a mistake on your ballot, ask for a new one.
• If the machines are down at your polling place, ask for a paper ballot.
• If a poll worker says your name is not on the list of registered voters, you can ask for a provisional ballot. (You’re entitled to this provisional ballot, even if you’re not in the poll book).
• If you run into any problems or have questions on Election Day, call the Election Protection Hotline:
  
  English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-866-687-8683
  
  Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA / 1-888-839-8682
  
  Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US / 1-844-925-5287
  
  For Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, or Vietnamese: 1-888-274-8683
• For more information on exercising your voting rights, resisting voter intimidation efforts, and accessibility assistance at the polls, check out the ACLU’s Know Your Voting Rights resource.

Also Read, Tweet & Share: Indian Americans in Houston protest human rights violations by the Indian government

2. Go Over Your Plan Before You Vote:

• Double check your state’s voter guidelines for your poll site location, materials you might need to bring with you like your state ID, ballot return deadlines, and other details.
• Be sure you’ve researched what’s at stake in your local races and ballot measures.
• If you have a mail-in ballot that you have not returned yet, use a drop box or return it in person, if your state allows.
• If you are voting in person, pack a few essentials in case your line is long: water, food, and entertainment (a book, music, a podcast like ACLU’s At Liberty, a quiz to test your knowledge on the Midterms, etc.).
• For guidance on where to find more help with voter information, your plan to vote, the issues at stake, and any other last-minute voting questions, visit our Vote Your Values page.

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3. Repeat After Us (Especially If You’re Stressed):

• It’s unlikely that the election results in every single state will be clear on Election Night. That’s okay and completely normal. Have patience. Remember with absentee ballots, mail-in ballots, and other considerations, it takes time to count every vote – and that is what’s most important.
• Our legal and advocacy teams are at-the-ready to protect your civil liberties at the polls – and wherever we may be needed on Election Day and beyond. Remember, the ACLU has national reach: We’re in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. We’ll be here to defend democracy no matter what. Count on it.

Also Read, Tweet & Share: Americans Decry Dehumanization of Hijab in India!!

Subscribers, we hope this helps for tomorrow. We know this election year has been a long one, and we cannot thank you enough for being with us at every turn protecting voters’ rights – and all civil liberties – through it all.

Let’s vote our values tomorrow – and then, together, we will continue our critical fight for a nation that is truly just and equal for all.

For democracy and the people,

Source: The ACLU Team

Curated and Compiled by Humra Kidwai