First, let me just reiterate a very important fact about voting rights that has been circulating the internet this morning. Voter lines are already long, with one of the highest projected turnouts ever. If you are in line, or inside your polling place before 8pm, and the polls close, STAY IN LINE. Do not get out. Your poll workers have to let you vote.

Alright, now that's out of the way, below are a few pertinent facts weened directly from a handy ACLU pamphlet providing a wealth of useful facts regarding the voting process and your voting rights in Los Angeles and Southern California. Read up and don't get disenfranchised (disenfranchization burns horribly and is the number two cause of irritable bowel syndrome).

When are the polls open?

• Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• You have the right to vote if you’re in line or inside your polling place when the polls close. Cal. Elec. Code §14401.

Can I get time off from work to vote?

• Maybe. If your work schedule would prevent you from voting in person while the polls are open, you have the right to take time off from work (up to two hours of which must be paid time off) in order to vote. If you know in advance that you’ll need time off, you must give your employer at least two working days’ notice. Cal. Elec. Code §14000.

Where do I vote?

• On Election Day, you have to vote at the polling place to which you’re assigned.

• Your assigned polling place will be listed on the voter registration card that you should receive in the mail when you register.

• If you don’t have your card, you can contact your county elections office or visit http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_ppl.htm to find out where to vote.

Can I bring voting aids with me to the polls?

• Yes. You can take written or printed voting aids with you as long as they’re for your own use in casting your ballot. Examples include a sample ballot, a voter information guide, a copy of the voter’s bill of rights, this card, or other similar explanatory materials to assist you in casting your vote.

What if my polling place is not accessible?

• If you find this out before Election Day, notify your county elections office right away and ask for an accommodation. You have the right to an accessible polling place and an accessible voting machine. Or, if you prefer, you can vote by mail.

• Curbside voting must be available at your polling place if it remains inaccessible under the Guidelines promulgated by the California Secretary of State. Contact your county elections office to find out.

• You also have the right to bring up to two people to assist you. You have the right to have anyone you choose assist you as long as the person is not your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your labor union.

Can I get a ballot in my native language?

• If you vote in California, you have the right to a ballot and instructions in Spanish. Some counties in California are also required to provide ballots and instructions in other languages. Contact your county elections office before Election Day to find out what’s available in your area. Poll workers in places where language assistance is required should offer this assistance to you. If they don’t, tell a poll worker that you want assistance in one of these languages. You’re entitled to a translation of all ballots and other election materials. Cal. Elec. Code §2103(c).

What if I need help in the voting booth?

• If you need help because of a physical disability or because you can’t read the ballot, tell a poll worker when you get to your polling place. You have the right to vote on an accessible voting machine. You also have the right to have anyone you choose assist you in the voting booth, including a poll worker, as long as the person is not your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your labor union. Cal. Elec. Code §14282.

• If you need language assistance, bring an interpreter with you to the polls. You have a right to bring an interpreter with you to communicate with poll workers and to translate the ballot as long as the interpreter is registered to vote in your county.

• If you need instructions on how to use the voting equipment, ask a poll worker for help. Poll workers are required to help you at any time you ask—even after you’ve entered the voting booth.

Do I have to show ID?

• Probably not. Most voters DO NOT need to show ID at all.

• You only need ID if:

1. you’re a first-time voter in your county;
2. you registered to vote by mail; and
3. you didn’t provide any identification when you registered.

What are the accepted forms of ID?
• Accepted forms of identification include a current and valid photo ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.

What if I don’t have any ID?

• If the first-time-voter ID requirements apply to you, you can cast a provisional ballot even if you don’t have ID. Cal. Elec. Code § 14310.

What if I’m not on the voter list?

• First, ask a pollworker to check the list again and to confirm that you’re at the right polling place.

• If you’re at the right polling place but your name isn’t on the voter list, ask for a provisional ballot. You have the right to cast a provisional ballot even if your name isn’t on the voter list, as long as you’re willing to swear that you believe you’re registered to vote. Cal. Elec. Code §14310.

What if I go to the wrong polling place?

• Go to the right polling place. You can ask a poll worker to help you find the polling place where you’re registered, or you can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE for assistance.

• If you can’t figure out where you’re registered, go to the polling place that you think is most likely to be the right one, and if you’re not on the registration rolls at that polling place, ask for a provisional ballot. You have the right to cast a provisional ballot even if you’re not at the right polling place.

What if someone challenges my right to vote?

• A poll worker will ask you some questions and rule on the challenge. Cal. Elec. Code §§14243-14247.

What if someone tries to intimidate or harass me?

• Tell a poll worker right away. If the poll worker is the problem, tell a poll watcher, call your county elections office, call one of the election hotline numbers listed at the end of this card, or make a complaint online at http://www.votingrights.org.

What if I make a mistake on my ballot or the voting machine malfunctions?

• Tell a poll worker before you cast your vote. If you spoil a paper ballot, you have the right to up to two replacement ballots as long as you catch your mistake before you cast your ballot. If your voting machine malfunctions, you can request a different machine. Cal. Elec. Code §14288.

How do I make a complaint?

• First, ask for an election supervisor at your polling place. He or she can handle most routine complaints that arise on Election Day. Candidates, political parties, and nonprofit groups may also have poll watchers at your polling place who might be able to assist you. In the alternative, you can call 1-866-OURVOTE to report any problems you encountered. If any of those people ask you who you voted for, or if they can’t resolve your complaint, call your county elections office or the California Secretary of State.

For the pamphlet in its entirety, you may download the PDF by clicking this link.

I would also like to add, you don't have to fill in every single field on your ballot. If you feel you don't have enough information to make a qualified decision, please leave that section blank, your other votes will still count. It's my personal belief that a misinformed vote is worse than not voting at all.

Now go get your party socks on and go VOTE!