How to find a polling place

Let me tell you a story about my friend Alexa (the name has been changed to protect the innocent).

Alexa had just turned 18 and an election was coming up. She was excited to be able to vote but she didn’t know where to go to vote. She was nervous she wouldn’t figure it out and wouldn’t be able to cast her vote.

Finding a polling location is simple, once you know where to go on the internet. You can also find information on the candidates and issues in your area.

First, congratulations on wanting to participate in the voting process. It is a great privilege to decide who runs the government. You should be excited.

Second, it’s easy to find your polling place. Follow these simple steps and you will be successful in no time. And you can teach your friends how to find their polling place also.

1.     Go to vote.org/polling-place-locator.

2.     You will see a list of “Polling Place Locators by State.”  Scroll down until you see your state and click on the blue “[STATE] polling place locator” link.

The information needed in the polling locator is different for each state. Examples of what may be required are: driver’s license information; birthdate and the last 4 digits of your social security number; name and birth date; and/or your address. The State of Utah will be our example, but your state-specific site may look different. But they are all simple to use.

3.       Enter your address on your state’s website. Click on “Submit.”

4.       A page will come up that will give you the voter information. For Utah, it explains “How Can I Vote?” If you want to vote on election day, click on that tab on the top right.

5.       It will show “Your nearest Election Day voting location” along with the election date and hours, what to bring, and what to expect on election day.

6.       If you don’t recognize the address, you can use your favorite map app on your phone to locate it.

You did it! You successfully found your polling place and you did it like a pro. Pay attention on election night to see if your candidates won.