And They Nicknamed Us The Voters

Town car speeding to the polls next Tuesday

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Election Day is less than a week away and so many Swifties for Kamala are already getting out the vote! If you haven’t voted yet, this special edition voter guide has everything you need to make your voice heard!

Once you’ve voted, join our movement to get Democrats down the ballot elected by sharing your voting photos with us on social media using the hashtag #InMyVotingEra!

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If you’ve got some time on your hands before Election Day, Swifties for Kamala still has volunteer opportunities to connect with voters in crucial states!

• Join Swifties for Kamala and WisDems to call Wisconsin voters during the Kamala Harris Rally featuring Gracie Abrams, Aaron Dessner, and more today from 4 - 8 PM CT! We’ll have a training session at the top of every hour, watch the livestream, and take a break from the dialer during performances.

• Don’t want to cancel your plans to make calls, but want to make texts instead? There’s nothing spookier than Mitch McConnell becoming Senate Majority Leader again… so we’re partnering with Ohio Dems & the Sherrod Brown team to send texts on Halloween (Thurs., Oct. 31) from 4 - 7 PM ET because there’s nothing spookier than losing our freedoms.

I whisper in the dark, “Where we gonna…vote?”

To find your in-person voting location, visit our You’re Not Alone, Kid guide on the Swifties for Kamala website. Find your state, click “Learn More,” and then click on the first red button that says “Find your polling place.”

Some states such as California allow same-day registration at your polling location during both early voting and on Election Day. Some states, however, do NOT offer same-day voter registration, so make sure you are aware of your state’s cut-off/deadline. All state-specific deadlines can be found in the guide above!  

Additionally, depending on the state, you may be able to register to vote or request an absentee ballot at a county election office before or on Election Day. 

To understand your specific county/state’s unique rules, visit the guide above and Dear Reader, read carefully to avoid missing any important details! 

Important: If you requested an absentee/mail-in ballot but decided to vote in person instead, some states require that you take your mail-in ballot with you to your polling place when you vote. 

To be on the safe and sound side, make sure you bring your absentee ballot with you!! 

Depending on your state’s rules, you most likely will have to exchange your mail-in ballot for an in-person ballot or cast what is called a provisional ballot!

Can we ask you a question?

Do you know what will be on your ballot on Nov. 5? If not, have no fear… Swifties for Kamala is here!

On top of the presidential candidates, your ballot may include the following types of races:

• Federal candidates (e.g. U.S. Senate and House)

• State candidates (e.g. gubernatorial and state legislature)

• Local candidates (e.g. school boards, healthcare district boards, water district boards, etc.)

• Judicial candidates

• Measures/propositions

All of this information can be overwhelming and difficult to keep straight. Most states publish official voter guides online that can be used to research the different candidates’ positions and to learn about ballot measures. To help, you can build a sample ballot online to make both researching and remembering your preferences easier!

Each state’s rule regarding what you can bring into the ballot box is different, so check with your local election office ahead of time to make sure any notes you prepare are allowed.

We’re sure you’ll do what’s suitable… and right... and be prepared to make your voice heard!

We’re going to make sure you have The Best Day voting by prepping you on what is and isn’t allowed at your polling location. We’ve got a list of things and these are in red, underlined, so let’s check it once, check it twice before the big day.

Here’s some general do’s and don’ts:

• Do bring printed notes and physical  sample ballots (but only printed ones – many states do not allow cell phone usage in the voting booth!)

• Don’t wear candidate merch without first checking your state’s rules (21 prohibit it)

• Do bring an acceptable form of ID (official state regulations here or in the S4K voting guide)

• Don’t take a picture with your ballot without checking first

This is the Last Time you’ll hear from us before Election Day but you’re not on your own kid if you read over your state’s policies for safe and stress-free voting!

Will you need to bring a form of ID to vote? And if so, do you know what kind of ID is required in your state?

Each state has its own unique rules for what is required for voting: Some require a photo ID to vote, some allow a non-photo ID, and some don’t need you to bring any form of ID to vote. So before you get so confused and frustrated, just know we’re here to help!

Before you head to your polling place to vote, check out our You’re Not Alone, Kid guide on the Swifties for Kamala website. Find your state, click “Learn More,” then scroll down to the “What do I need to bring to vote?” section. This tab will explain what form of ID, if any, you need to successfully vote in your state.

You can also visit VoteRiders’ Vote ID page for additional resources — including FREE help if you need assistance getting the required documents you need to vote in your state!

Finally, remember that registering to vote in your state is NOT the same as bringing a form of ID to vote. Many states require both, so make sure you know the rules for your state before heading to the polls. As Taylor says: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail — so make sure you’re a voting mastermind!

First and foremost, it’s important to know your rights when you vote.

• If you make a mistake on your ballot, you can ask for a new one.

• If the machines are down at your polling place, you can ask for a paper ballot.

• If you run into any problems or have questions on Election Day, you can call the nonpartisan 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

Here are suggestions for some common issues you could run into:

The poll worker says your name isn’t on the list of registered voters

First, ask the poll worker to double check for your name and that they’re spelling it correctly. If it’s not there, you can ask if there’s a supplemental list of voters. If the poll worker still cannot find your name, you should confirm that you’re at the correct polling place either by asking the poll worker to check a statewide system (if available) or ask them to call the main election office. You can also call 1-866-OUR-VOTE. If the poll worker still cannot find your name or if you cannot travel to the correct polling place, ask for a provisional ballot.

You, and all voters, are entitled to a provisional ballot, even if you aren’t in the poll book. After Election Day, election officials will investigate if you are qualified to vote and registered — if you are, then your provisional ballot will be counted.

Someone is interfering with your right to vote

This could be intimidation that looks like:

• Aggressively questioning voters about their citizenship, criminal record, or other qualifications to vote

• Falsely representing themselves as an elections official

• Displaying false or misleading signs about voter fraud and related criminal penalties

• Harassing non-English speakers and voters of color

• Spreading false information about voter requirements (such as saying you need to speak English to vote or pass a test)

It is illegal in all states to intimate voters. If you experience any behavior like this you can give a sworn statement to the poll worker that you satisfy the qualifications to vote in your state, and then proceed to cast a ballot. You can also report intimidation to the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (for Spanish) and report intimidation to your local election officials — you can use this link to find the contact info for your local officials. 

As long as you’re prepared, hopefully you won’t have to deal with many hometown skeptics.

If you’re voting in-person on Election Day, the main thing to remember (aside from who you’re voting for) is that if you’re in line, stay in line. Even if the polls close while you’re waiting, once you’re already in line, you have the right to vote. When in doubt, think of it like you’re in the Ticketmaster queue but at the end of your wait, you’re guaranteed tickets.

To all disabled voters: When you vote in-person, you have a right to ask for accessibility accommodations.

Examples of accessibility accommodations protected by the ADA include:

• Wheelchair-accessible voting locations 

• Service animal support

• An aide to assist you in the voting process 

• An accessible voting device for those that are blind/visually impaired

To learn more about your rights, visit the ADA’s checklist for polling places.

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