The Only Checklist You’ll Need for National Voter Education Week

Happy National Voter Education Week! With election season underway, now is the perfect time to ensure that you’re educated and aware about our nation’s election processes and feel confident in how to make your voice heard! 

This week is important to us at Issue One, so we created a checklist to help ensure that you are vote ready! However you decide to cast your ballot, whether you’re a UOCAVA voter, an absentee ballot voter, an early voter, or an Election Day voter, make sure that you’re fully prepared by checking the boxes below: 

☐ Make sure you are registered to vote! 

• Even if you are, it’s always a good idea to double check your voter registration status. Be connected to trusted state-specific information here.

☐ Check what’s going to be on your ballot beforehand. 

• By checking ahead of time, you’ll be fully informed on what you’ll be voting on. Find your specific state’s website here.

☐ Make your plan! 

• Now that you’re registered and know what you’ll be asked to vote on, make sure you know when, where, and how you plan to vote! Can you vote early or with a mail or absentee ballot? Are you voting on Election Day?

• Be connected to state-specific information here. 

☐ Learn more about the key players in running elections: 

• State Election Officials: Each state has a chief election official, often the secretary of state, who plays a leadership role in overseeing the election process. They set policies and ensure consistency across different counties and municipalities. They also have a role in certifying election results and supporting the security of the state’s voting infrastructure.

• Local Election Officials: County and municipal election officials play a huge role in overseeing the process on the ground. From managing polling places and recruiting and training poll workers, to ensuring the voting equipment is functioning properly, they’re busy running the show. In many places, local officials also update voter rolls and verify eligibility.

• Poll Workers: Poll workers are the front line of Election Day operations. These are everyday citizens who volunteer or are paid to check in voters and troubleshoot issues at polling places. Their work is crucial to making sure voters can cast their ballots with ease.

• Despite often working under intense pressure — and in some cases facing threats or harassment — election officials at all levels of the process stay focused on their mission: protecting the integrity of the vote.

☐ If you have questions, just ask! 

• If you have questions or concerns about how elections are run in your area, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local election office. Many officials welcome feedback and are eager to help inform the public.
  
  Besides contacting your local election officials for information, you can stay informed this election season with VoteWise, our chatbot available on WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook/Instagram. VoteWise is a simple and free way for users to fact-check information about elections in the United States and learn more about how they’re run. Test it out! 

☐ Support our Faces of Democracy by advocating for an increase in protections and funding. 

• In recent years, there’s been increased public attention on the essential work that election workers do. As false information about the election process continues to spread, their roles have become more difficult, but are also more crucial than ever. Election officials are now at the forefront of providing accurate information to voters, correcting false narratives, and ensuring transparency in the voting process.

Now that you know who the key players in running elections are, make sure you stand with them. Sign our pledge and commit to speaking out against any harassment of election officials. Make sure you are prepared to vote and prepared to support the people who make that vote possible – our quiet protectors of democracy.

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