It’s Election Day! Are you vote ready?
Happy Election Day from YWCA National Capital Area. Civic engagement, especially voting, is a key component of our intersectional work, as we believe that all voices should be heard at the ballot box.
Not registered to vote? You can register and still vote today! Here is how:
In DC, same-day registration is available on Election Day. You will need to complete a voter registration application, swear or affirm that you are qualified to vote, and provide valid proof of residence. You can learn more about which documents qualify as valid proof of residence here.
In Maryland, you can register to vote in-person on Election Day. You will need to bring a current and valid photo ID card (i.e., Maryland driver’s license, MVA-issued ID card, student, employee, or military ID card, U.S. passport, or any other State or federal government-issued ID card); or a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address and that is dated within 3 months of the election.
In Virginia, brand new rules went into effect on October 1, which allow for same day registration. Registration on election day is allowed in person, either at the local registrar’s office or at a polling place. However, voters will be allowed to cast provisional ballots, which are not processed by a vote counting machine at the time of voting, but rather are subject to approval by the local electoral board prior to the ballot being counted. You can learn more here about these new rules.
If you are registered, congratulations! We hope you have already made your plan to vote today. Here are some tips to remember as you head to the polls:
- Ask your employer about their policy for time off for voting activities. Many, but not all, employers offer paid time off for voting. Check with your employer about what they offer or what is required by your jurisdiction.
- Find your polling place. You can find your polling place on the DC Board of Elections, the Maryland State Board of Elections, and the Virginia Department of Elections websites.
- Know your polling place hours. In DC and Maryland, polls are open from 7am to 8pm. In Virginia, polls are open 6am to 7pm.
- Do you need an ID to vote? Maybe. In Virginia, you need identification to vote. You can find acceptable forms here. In Maryland and DC, you only need ID under certain circumstances, like if you are a first time voter or if you need to provide proof of residence when voting. For MD, find the rules here. For DC, ID requirements are here.
- Before you head to the polls, learn about what’s on your ballot. Our friends at the League of Women Voters have created non-partisan voter guides, based on your address. Visit vote411.org to get started.
- Need a ride to the polls? Lyft is offering 50% off up to $10 in ride credits to help people in need get to the polls. Enter code VOTE22 in the Lyft app.
- Know your voting rights. Our friends at When We All Vote have a great checklist at https://whenweallvote.org/voting101/votingrights.
- Save the Voter Protection Hotline numbers. Have questions on Election Day? Call the election protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE/866-687-8683. They can help! The hotline is also available in Spanish (888-VE-Y-VOTA), Asian languages (888-API-VOTE), and Arabic (844-YALLA-US).
Civic engagement is not only essential to our mission, but most importantly, our democracy. Your Vote Matters. All voices deserve to be heard. Empowered People Vote. Happy voting from your friends at YWCA National Capital Area.
P.s. Tag us in your voting selfies on social media. We will share our favorites throughout the day. You can also send them to us at sgraham@ywcanca.org.