A Quick Guide to Avoiding Problems at the Polls

Iowa Voting Hours: 7am-9pm
Nebraska Voting Hours: 8am-8pm





Before you go to the polls TODAY:




– Find your correct polling place. Click here:




http://www.mypollingplace.com




They are getting crushed with requests, so if you don't get through
right away, try again later or just call your county auditor.




– Find a form of identification to bring to the polls. Unless you are a
first-time voter who registered by mail without sending identification,
you have the right to vote without providing ID. However, to avoid
hassles just bring ID anyway. A government-issued ID is best (such as a
driver's license), but you can also bring a utility bill, paycheck
stub, phone bill, or similar papers with your name on them. If your ID
does not have a signature, bring two forms of identification.




– Allow plenty of time to vote, preferably in the morning. There may be
lines. Bring something to read. If the line is really long, consider
getting a box of donuts or cookies to share to lighten the mood.
Someone might be challenging voters just to slow things up in the hope
that long lines will scare away voters. If this is happening, let folks
in line know so it stiffens their resolve to stay and cast their vote.




Learn Your Voting Rights




– Even if you are not on the voter list, federal law gives you the
right to a “provisional ballot.” Insist on one and vote. A regular
ballot is preferable, so you should do whatever you can to get a
regular ballot first, like going home and getting a second form of
identification or going to the polling place where you are definitely
on the voter list. But rather than be turned away, demand a provisional
ballot.




WHAT'S A PROVISIONAL BALLOT?: The New York Times explains, “No voter
can be turned away in any state this year without being allowed to
vote. If there is a question about your eligibility, you must be
allowed to vote on a provisional ballot, the validity of which will be
determined later. But if you are entitled to vote on a regular ballot,
you should insist on doing so, since a provisional ballot may be
disqualified later on a technicality.”




– You have the right to vote if you are in line when the polls close. Stay in line until you vote.




At The Polls




– If you are confused about ANYTHING or feel you are being harassed,
ask the official poll workers to help. Do not rely on fellow citizens
for advice about the ballot, how the voting machines work, or why you
are not on the rolls. If someone is challenging your right to vote, ask
the poll workers to intervene.




– If someone harasses you, don't cause a ruckus. Just ignore the
harasser, report it to a poll worker, and let the voting process
continue. What kinds of things might somebody try? Well, in the past
people have insisted on more ID than is required or argued that someone
is at the wrong polling place.




– If something goes wrong, document it. Write down what happened, when,
and descriptions of the people involved, including their names, if you
can get them. If you have a camera or camera-phone, take pictures.




Report voting problems to an organization ready to respond to problems at the polls




– Common Cause:  Call 1-866-MYVOTE1. This is a hotline you can call to report any voting problems.




– 1-866-OUR-VOTE. This hotline has been set up by a coalition of
nonpartisan groups to deal with the most serious problems on Election
Day. They have hundreds of lawyers standing by to immediately respond
to the most egregious problems. 1-866-OUR-VOTE is the “911” of voter
suppression hotlines. Please don't call unless your problem is serious
enough that you have to talk to a lawyer immediately.




– Contact the media. If something is going terribly wrong at a polling
site and you have reported it to the folks above, you might want to
then call local radio, television, and newspaper reporters. Often
problems clear up quickly after a reporter arrives.




It's odd that it's come to this. But given how hard Americans have
fought for the freedom to pick our government, it ought to take a lot
more than these inconveniences and ham-handed attempts by desperate
political operatives to dissuade us from casting a ballot. See you at
the polls.