What Everyone Forgets on Election Day

Meteor friends,

Tomorrow is the big day. We know there’s a lot on the line and we’re processing it all with you. We hope you’re ready to vote for something, and someone, you feel strongly about.

But before we all get swept up in the CNN of it all, let’s go over a few key things it’s easy to forget—both about Election Day and the confusion that is likely to come after.

Make your voice heard,

Cindi, Nona and Rebecca

IF YOU HAVEN’T VOTED YET…

We’ve been saying this a lot in the newsletter when it comes to voting: “Y’all know what to do.” But for those who don’t know what to do—which is understandable, ’cause it’s not always clear!—we’re here to help.

• Find out the nitty-gritty. Here’s how to find your polling place and check your registration. And here are the 22 states which allow same-day registration.

• Think local. Yes, you’re voting for president, but you’re also voting for people whose decisions will more directly affect your neighbors. Here’s how to find out what’s on your ballot and navigate those intentionally confusing ballot propositions. (Btw, did you know that there is research to indicate voting is good for your health and the wellness of your community?)

• Text a friend. It’s a shockingly simple thing you can do right now that actually makes a difference: Research shows that receiving a text from a friend about making a voting plan can increase the likelihood of someone actually doing it by 8.3%

• Bow down to our true heroes. We’ve always been bowled over by the genuine enthusiasm from the poll workers at our local poll sites. Remember to thank them profusely on your way out!

Know your rights. If you’re told you can’t vote, ask to complete a provisional ballot, and learn your rights. And if anyone threatens or tries to block you from voting, report it to the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE. Intimidation is illegal!

IF YOU’VE ALREADY VOTED, BUT WANT TO HELP…

POLL WORKERS IN GEORGIA DOING THE SACRED WORK OF SIGNING IN VOTERS DURING EARLY VOTING (VIA GETTY IMAGES) 

Focus on the people closest to you. Encourage them to vote, offer to watch the kids and drive them to their polling spot. If they have questions about accessibility or what to bring, direct them here. If they have questions about voting more confidentially (which people living in abusive situations may want), direct them here. And if they’re in a place where the lines are seemingly endless, pack them snacks and water.

• Give if you can. If you have some extra cash, donate to an organization counteracting election denialism, like American Oversight. Or you can also just keep it real simple, and donate to Pizza to the Polls, whose mission is to “help feed democracy” by delivering free food to voters waiting in long lines across the country. And if you see a super long line somewhere, report it here.

• Find a phone bank. Love to yap for a good cause? Supermajority is making it easy for first-timers to phone bank throughout the day tomorrow, Tuesday, in crucial swing states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, and Georgia. See you there!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER NOVEMBER 5

KIDS LOVE VOTING! (VIA GETTY IMAGES) 

Unless there’s an unexpected landslide, we probably won’t know who won the presidential election on Tuesday night. Here are some key things to know for the days and weeks ahead:

• Some states will still be counting (and recounting) ballots. In some cases, states aren’t even allowed to start processing mail-in ballots until Election Day, including the swing states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. And if it’s really close—as the polls keep suggesting it might be—one or more states might order a recount.

• The courts will be flooded. Even ahead of Election Day, Republicans have already filed dozens of lawsuits claiming fraud; Democrats have pushed back by filing suits of their own. The good news is that the vast majority of the GOP’s claims are laughably thin and have failed to persuade judges. Still, many believe that the party’s ulterior motive is not so much legal victory as causing chaos and undermining faith in the vote count.

• Local election officials will be pressured to not certify the vote. One tactic of MAGA’s so-called  “election integrity” movement is trying to convince election administrators that they can “vote their conscience” and not certify the election results (they can’t; this is illegal). The New York Times’ deep dive into this effort found that any refusals would have no standing in court. Still, it just takes one rogue official to create upheaval that might last far beyond Election Day.

• MAGA is organized, but so are pro-democracy groups. We know it’s scary: This is not the scattershot Stop the Steal movement of 2020, but the far more sophisticated “election integrity” tactics of 2024. But Democrats have literally thousands of lawyers preparing for myriad scenarios. One more fact that helps us sleep better? This time around, Trump is a civilian, not a president—with no legal immunity and no direct line to the Justice Department.

And finally, be mindful of inadvertently spreading dis- and misinformation during and after the election—it happens when we’re most confused and agitated. Here is a great resource with a checklist of what to consider before you share links. Let’s be part of the solution!

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