With the general election drawing close, it's important to know your rights in case your vote is challenged. The best way to ensure that your vote is counted is to advocate for yourself. I'm a civil rights attorney and lecturer for the University of Southern California's undergraduate civil rights advocacy initiative, Agents of Change.
Here are several straightforward ways to ensure your vote is counted and two practical remedies for you to consider if your vote remains challenged. A major part of ensuring that you are able to vote is doing the necessary preparation before you even get to the polling place. Read on to find out how and where to register, where and when you can cast your ballot, and what numbers to call for any information you can't find online.
Are you registered to vote? Check it out Before you vote, you need to ensure that you're registered to vote. You can verify your registration status using this tool. If you can't use an online tool, then call your local election office or a voter help line like the ones listed in the hotline section below.
If you find you're not registered, you can use this tool from the National Conference of State Legislatures to find your state's online registration application. If you need to do this in person, then call your local election office for instructions. At this point, you may have missed your state's deadline for voter registration.
But it may not be too late to register. Many states allow same-day registration at the po.
