By Becka Wall – @beckawall

Guys, THIS IS IT! This election year is almost OVER! After what has been a long, emotional journey – from the highs (nominating our first female candidate to one of the two major parties) to the lows (almost everything Donald Trump has done), we only have one week left. It all culminates on November 8. Election Day. THE BIG KAHUNA.

I could go on and on about how this is one of the most important elections of our lifetimes, and how important it is you vote, but hopefully, you know about that already (IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT, AND YOUR VOTE REALLY DOES COUNT).

So, here are the top 5 things you need to do before election day:

 

  1. Research who is on the ballot and where they stand on the issues that matter to you. Check out who they have been endorsed by, and who their opponent has been endorsed by, and then look up what each of those organizations stand for (on Google too, not just on their websites, in case there are some secrets lurking). Then, write on a little slip of paper or note on your phone your preferred candidates in each race – from President down to school board, your vote matters.
  2. Make sure you’re registered at your current address. Every state has different laws about how soon you can register before election day. The handy tool iwillvote.com allows you to enter your address and tells you everything you need to know about how to vote, where you’re registered and registration deadlines. Google does something similar, if you Google “how to vote in [your state] 2016.”
  3. Make a voting plan. Check what time your polls are open, where your polling place is, and your schedule for the day. Make a plan to go before work, during your lunch break or after work – depending on when works for you – and don’t let anything get in your way. Don’t think you can spare a moment on November 8? Look up the rules around early voting in your state and get thee to an early voting location stat!giphy
  4. Volunteer. In the final push, every campaign – and I mean every single one – is looking for help in some way or another. Whether it’s phonebanking, knocking on doors or even just a $5 donation, contact your favorite candidate(s) and ask how you can best help them get elected!
  5. Get excited. This is fun! This year has been a long and exhausting election season, but this is the fun stuff about living in a democracy. We are the ones who have final say over who runs our school boards, Congress and the Presidency. Organize an election day watch party, or find one in your city to attend and invite your friends to join, drink a couple of beers and stay tuned. No matter what happens, we’re all in this together as a country – and that’s what this is all about, right?