Find Your Polling Place Ahead of Time
Knowing the location of and directions to your polling place ahead of time will help ensure that you can zip to the polls and back during that half-hour lunch break. You can locate your local polling place using your zip code at MyPollingPlace.com, or MyPollingSite.com, either of which will redirect you to polling place information from the state election office in your state.

Know Your Rights
If you are an eligible voter, you have the following rights:

• If your name is not on the official voter list but you believe you are eligible to vote in that precinct, even if an election official challenges your vote, you have the right to cast a "provisional ballot."
• If you are in line when the polls close you should stay in line because you are entitled to vote.
• In many states, employers must allow you time to vote at some point during the day. You can't be fired for being late due to long polling lines.
• You have the right to vote without being intimidated by anyone.
• Visit the Election Protection website for more information on your rights.

Be Prepared

• Bring photo ID, preferably government-issued ID or a utility bill, phone bill, or paycheck with your name and current street address. If you are a new registrant, it may be required. Some states are now requiring photo ID for all voters.
• Vote in the morning. In a great majority of polling places, everything will go smoothly, but by going early you can help prevent lines later in the day.
• A regular ballot is better than a provisional ballot. If your eligibility to vote is questioned, ask if you can cast a regular ballot by providing additional ID or by going to another polling place. Only cast a provisional ballot if there is no alternative available.

Know the Issues

• Keep up to date on issues of concern to women and families with AAUW issue pages and Washington Update, AAUW’s weekly public policy e-newsletter.
• Read The 2006 ABCs of Women’s Issues (PDF), published by the National Council of Women’s Organizations, which provides updates on women’s issues and questions you need to ask candidates and political parties.
• Read AAUW's Congressional Voting Record for the 109th Congress, which provides the public with critical information about how their members of Congress voted on equity issues affecting women and girls.

Encourage Others to Vote 

• Make voting a social outing; bring your friends and neighbors with you to vote. Wear your "I voted" sticker the rest of the day to show your coworkers that you voted.

What if Something Goes Wrong?

First, document it. If there are specific individuals challenging your right to vote, intimidating voters, or interfering with the process, try to get their names. Write down exactly what happened, including the time of day, descriptions of the people involved, and any other details you can remember.

Then, report it. There are many organizations that will be working to respond quickly to complaints of voter intimidation, suppression, and fraud. Here's who to call.

• Call 1-866-MYVOTE1. Common Cause has set up a hotline that you can call to report any problems you have voting. They will document where problems are occurring, watch for wide-spread voter suppression, and provide real-time legal help to the hot spots.
• 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 hotlines. Please do not call unless your problem is serious enough that you have to talk to a lawyer immediately.
• Finally, those voters who believe they have been the victim of racial discrimination in voting should contact the U.S. Department of Justice at 1-800-253-3931.