Voting 101: 7 ways to make your midterm ballot count

The midterm elections on November 3 will test the narrow congressional majority held by Republicans since President Donald Trump took office last year. They also come as the president pushes to change how elections are conducted nationwide, falsely portraying fraud as a pervasive issue.

The Trump administration has called for a federal voter database using citizen data, plus new ID requirements spurred by false claims of noncitizen voting. In July, Trump also gutted a bipartisan commission created to uphold election integrity across the United States.

Voting rights advocates have sounded the alarm on moves like these, noting they may make it harder for some eligible citizens to cast their ballots. As the national voting landscape continues to change, The Advocate has compiled a list of tips and safety recommendations pertinent to this year’s election cycle.

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Registering to Vote

For some, this may go without saying. But to cast a ballot, you must register to vote in advance. The process varies state by state and some areas allow same-day registration. Check your secretary of state’s office or election board website to learn more. Go to vote.gov to easily find details about your state.

Ballot Delivery

Voting laws vary widely across the country. Some states have stringent in-person voting laws, whereas others offer more flexibility around mail-in and absentee ballots.

States generally have voter lookup tools on their government websites, which voters can use to confirm ballot types, find in-person voting locations, and sometimes even consult sample ballots with all candidates listed prior to Election Day.

Voting on Time

For mail-in ballots, some states need ballots to arrive by Election Day, whereas others require only that they be postmarked by then. For in-person voting, states may require you to arrive at your designated polling site at different times. Check your voting precinct’s policies in advance.

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Voter ID Laws

As Republicans across state and federal offices look to tighten laws around voting accessibility, be sure to check if your state requires photo ID or other forms of identification at the polls. Twenty-five states currently require photo ID, mostly in the South and Midwest, and numerous others require ID that may or may not include your photo, according to Ballotpedia.

For trans voters, showing ID may be more nerve-wracking if the gender marker listed does not match your gender expression on Election Day. But according to voting advocacy nonprofit VoteRiders, ID checks just confirm that certain information on your ID, like your name, matches your voter registration.

That does not preclude trans voters from discrimination by poll workers, or misplaced challenges to the authenticity of their ID, as the trans rights advocacy group Advocates for Trans Equality notes. The organization says bringing multiple forms of ID can be helpful in some circumstances, but poll workers are not entitled to ask questions about a voter’s gender identity status or medical history. For more information on navigating Election Day challenges around voter ID laws, visit transequality.org.

Conduct at Poll Sites

There are generally strict policies around conduct at polling sites. Many states prohibit wearing political insignias, campaign buttons, stickers, or other messaging at a voting location. And on-site electioneering — or trying to persuade voters one way or another — is also widely prohibited. Rules about photography, including ballot selfies, also vary widely. If you are voting in person, be sure to adhere to a high standard of conduct to ensure you can successfully cast your ballot. Check your secretary of state’s website for the most current information about conduct and other voting guidelines.

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Staying in Line

If you’re still in line when the polls close, you still have the ability to vote. Stay in the queue, and make your voice heard. If you’re anticipating a long wait, it’s also a good idea to bring along water and snacks. Some states have prohibitions against “line warming,” or handing out water and snacks to others, so be sure to know your local laws before volunteering in this way.

Everyone Makes Mistakes

Make a mistake on your ballot? Ask for a new one. This is your right. Crossing out anything on your form will create confusion and may result in your vote not being counted as you’d like.

This article is part of The Advocate’s Sept-Oct 2026 print issue, on newsstands now. Support queer media and subscribe — or download the issue through Apple News+, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader.