Whatever change you want to see,
whatever #hashtags you use to express it,
one way to back it up is to…
There’s a lot of information to know when it comes to voting.
Here’s a Q & A guide to help you get ready to vote in the upcoming election:
✅ Learn About the Issues
The best way to align your vote with your values is to be well-informed. This means learning about what’s going on, from trustworthy, accurate, and unbiased sources.
Q: How do I find out what’s going on?
A: Pay attention. Think. Ask questions. Read. Listen. Learn.
Q: How do I know what to read, who to listen to, and what information is trustworthy?
A: Some sources of information are more accurate and reliable than others. A reliable source is one that reports accurately, and with as little bias as possible.
Learn about the sources you get your information from, and understand their biases. Here’s a useful media bias guide to help. You can also subscribe to newsletters such as 1440, a daily news service that provides to-the-point news without taking sides.
✅ Understand What’s on Your Ballot
Ballots list candidates for various seats of government, and can also have other measures, such as budget proposals. Some ballots have more information than others depending on the election cycle and where you live. It’s important to understand what’s on your ballot so that you know who and what you’re voting for.
Q: Where can I learn about what issues are on my ballot?
A: There are a number of sites that offer information about your ballot, specific to where you live. You can usually find this information by searching by your location.
For example, Ballotpedia has this ballot lookup tool with in-depth information about ballot measures, and candidates running for seats in Congress (the Senate, and House of Representatives), and at the State level. This tool can direct you to the campaign websites of the candidates, where you can learn about their respective positions on voting topics.
Other sites offer tools that make it easy to compare candidates without having to go back and forth between their websites (though you can do that, too). For example, this Vote411.org tool allows you offers side-by-side comparisons where you can see how candidates answered questions about voting topics. The site also features links to debate videos, where you can watch candidates speak to their stances on these topics.
✅ Information About Voting Registration
You must to be registered to vote in order to vote in the upcoming election. As of November 1st, 2022, it may be too late to register to vote for this upcoming election. Fortunately, you’re allowed to allowed to register and vote on the same day in person in 17 states, plus Washington D.C.
Q: Am I registered to vote?
A: We’re not sure, but you can find out if you’re registered to vote here.
Q: How can I register to vote?
A: You can register to vote by mail or in person. Some states also allow you to register online. if yours state allows it, you can register to vote here.
*Updated 11/1/2022: Some states allow you to register to vote in person during early voting. Check the link above to find out the rules for voting registration where you live.
✅ When, Where, and How To Vote
Early in-person voting is already open in many states and is available until polling sites close on Election Day.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th, 2022.
Q: When and how can I vote?
A: You can vote in person on Election Day, or sooner if early in-person voting is available where you live.
You can also vote by mail using an absentee (mail-in) ballot. In many cases, your ballot must be received by Election Day. Find your state’s vote by mail deadline here, under the“Voter Absentee Ballot is Due” column. Make sure your mail-in ballot is postmarked and delivered by Election Day so that your vote counts!
Q: Where do I go to vote in person?
A: You can find your polling place here.
Q: How can I vote by mail?
A: If you already requested and received an absentee (mail-in) ballot, follow the instructions for filling out and mailing your ballot correctly so that your vote is counted.
*As of November 1st, 2022, it’s likely too late to request a mail-in ballot for the November 8th election. In the future, you can request a mail-in ballot here by searching your state.
Q: How do I know if my mail-in ballot was received?
A: You can track the status of your absentee (mail-in) ballot here.
Who we vote for affects
our rights,
our laws,
our livelihood,
and the livelihoods of those around us.
Voting is #socialhealth.
Let’s change the way we see health.
*Last updated November 1st, 2022