Attention, lovely readers — early voting for the 2020 presidential election starts tomorrow.

Don’t fret. We’ve got voting details. | Gif by Giphy

Chloé here, and I’ll spare you the, “It’s-your-civic-duty-to-vote” lecture (but, seriously, it is), and get right to the info you need to ensure a smooth experience.

If you aren’t registered to vote, you’ve missed the Feb. 3 deadline, but there are other ways to participate.

Super Tuesday — aka Election Day, when more than ⅓ of the U.S. population will vote — is March 3. If you don’t vote early, March 3 is your day.

🗳️ When is early voting?

Wed, Feb. 12-Tues., Feb 25.

🗳️ Where can I vote early?

Hamilton County has four early voting spots:

Brainerd Rec Center, 1010 N. Moore Road | Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. + Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Collegedale City Hall, 4910 Swinyar Drive | Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. + Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Hamilton County Election Commission, 700 River Terminal Road | Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.- 7 p.m. + Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hixson Community Center, 5401 School Drive | Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. + Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

🗳️ What do I need to bring with me?

You may have heard about the Tennessee Real ID but you don’t need that to vote.
Check this page for acceptable identification, which includes a driver’s license with photo, U.S. Military ID, a handgun carry permit + U.S. passport.

🗳️ Why should I vote early?

The short, partial answer is that it gives you plenty of time to make sure your vote counts.

I have this super sentimental habit of voting on Election Day, and I’ve never had a problem. But I did have a scare last election because I moved for the first time in many years. I realized it after early voting ended and panicked, worried that my address change would cause a problem.

My obtuse realization was, “So this is why people vote early. If there’s a problem, there’s plenty of time to fix it.” Duh. I know. 🤦‍♀️

🚨 Important: During early voting, you can vote at any of the designated voting locations. On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned precinct.

🗳️ Other information

ProTip: If you need to update your address, it will look like it’s making you register to vote all over again. But I called the election commission, and an official said it’s the same process.
The Hamilton County Election Commission does a great job of keeping its site up-to-date + has info about absentee voting and sample ballots.