The Civic Literacy Project: POV #PreparetoVote

By Maqube Reese, MSW, LSW, Founder|CEO, Tribe Consulting Firm

The Civic Literacy Project| August 4, 2026

Welcome to day three of my daily writing journey as we count down to the 2026 general election. My goal is to help boost civic literacy, one entry at a time.

Yesterday, August 2, 2026, I wrote a brief History of Democracy and shared what it means to me. My goal is to keep this a living room vibe, where I’d offer you a warm or iced coffee/tea. Personally, I am a homemade iced brown sugar latte girlie. So grab your favorite drink and come on in!

The Civic Literacy Project: Prepare to VOTE

If you’ve never voted before, you’re in the right place.

Voting can seem overwhelming or confusing, and sometimes it might even feel pointless. (Hartig, 2018) Maybe you’ve thought, “Why vote? It won’t make a difference,” or “My candidate will probably win, so I don’t need to vote.” (Werfel, 2017) It’s normal to feel unsure, but let’s work through it together.

I remember my first time voting and feeling nervous; I just did not want to mess up. So when I got to the polling place, I realized I was not the only first-timer. So I settled in, and that got me through it.

Your participation matters. When I get ready to vote, I stay connected with my communities first. I attend community meetings throughout the year, which helps me understand what issues are most important to the people around me. That way, I am aware of what is going on on the grassroots level. When folks say grassroots, that means what is going on on the ground. (Grassroots, 2022) I notice what people need and stay involved in shared spaces. By being involved, I learn firsthand about the challenges and needs in my area, which makes it easier to choose candidates and policies that align with what matters to my community. Voting is personal, but it’s also about providing resources for our communities. (Werfel, 2017)

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help make voting feel easier:

Step 1: Get Involved: If you’re voting for the first time, start with small steps. Go to a community event, campaign rally, or town hall. Social media can help you find out what’s happening nearby. Candidates often hold events, so show up, ask questions, and listen. You might learn more than you expect. I am going to say this one more time. Attend community events throughout the year even when it is not an election cycle. Stay engaged in your community. Engagement can look like going to festivals, large events, lunch-and-learns, etc.

Step 2: Register to Vote: Check that you’re eligible and registered to vote; you will need to be 18 and older to vote (Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1971). When I moved, one of the first things I did was update my voter registration; it gave me some peace in knowing I completed this task with no hiccups. So if you recently moved, this is a huge first step. If you have changed your name, or to be on the safe side, check your registration every election cycle.  Let’s all pause for a moment and check our registration.

I’ll wait while you check…go ahead!

Welcome back, and thanks for taking a moment. Let’s keep going:

Step 3: Know Who’s on the Ballot: This step can feel like the hardest part. Find out who’s running in your area by reviewing your sample ballot before you vote. In primary election years, each party selects its candidates for the general election. For the 2026 general election, all 435 U.S. House seats and 35 U.S. Senate seats are on the ballot, along with many state and local races. (2026 United States House of Representatives elections, 2026) Knowing who’s running helps you make informed choices.

A couple of nonpartisan websites to start your research are common ones such as Ballotpedia, Vote411.org, and your state’s official election website (VOTE411, 2026). These resources can help you feel more confident as you research and make your decisions.

Step 4: Find Your Polling Place: Find out where you can vote early and where you need to go on election day. Early voting locations might be different from the ones on election day. (Early in-person voting, 2026) Make sure you know the address and hours. The easiest way to find your polling place is to visit your state's official election website or a trusted resource like vote.gov. There, you can enter your address and see the exact polling locations and hours in your area. (Find Your Polling Place, 2026) If you prefer, you can also call your local poll office and ask for this information. They can help answer any questions you have about where or when to vote.

If you need assistance, polling places offer accessibility support options. If you have questions about accommodations like accessible entrances, ballot options for people with vision needs, or getting materials in another language, your local poll office can provide information and services to support you. (Voter accessibility laws, 2026) If you know you will need an accommodation, it is a good idea to contact your local poll office before Election Day to request the support you need and make sure everything will be ready for you when you arrive.

Step 5: Vote! Take your time, breathe, and cast your ballot. Remember how you felt afterward. After you vote, proudly let your community know. Here is the big call to action. Once you vote, keep attending events and join your local meetings. Volunteer and stay engaged in your community; plan to participate in every election. Civic literacy, in my opinion, is the responsibility to think critically, evaluate differences of thought that do not cause harm to another person's existence, and shared participation. Shared participation includes voting, volunteering, and advocating for communities to receive access to resources.

I can keep writing, but I want to keep it 2-6 minutes. I can not wait for you to read the next article. Thank you for being here.

References

(November 2, 2026). 2026 United States House of Representatives elections. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections

Hartig, H. (November 4, 2018). In their own words: Why some people find voting difficult. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/11/05/in-their-own-words-why-some-people-find-voting-difficult/

Werfel, S. H. (2017). Voting and Civic Engagement: Results from an Online Field Experiment. Research & Politics 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168017690736

(2025). National Mail Voter Registration Form FAQs. U.S. Election Assistance Commission. https://www.eac.gov/voters/national-mail-voter-registration-form-faqs

(2025). How do I check my voter registration information?. U.S. Election Assistance Commission. https://www.eac.gov/how-do-i-check-my-voter-registration-information

(2026). VOTE411. VOTE411.org. https://www.vote411.org/

(2026). Find Your Polling Place. USAGov. https://www.app.cloud.gov/find-polling-place

(2026). Voter accessibility laws. USAGov. https://www.usa.gov/voter-accessibility-laws

(2026). Absentee voting and voting by mail. USAGov. https://www.usa.gov/absentee-voting

(2022). Grassroots. The Forge. https://forgeorganizing.org/article/what-does-grassroots-mean/

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About the Author

Maqube Reese, MSW, LSW, is the founder of Tribe Consulting and an award-winning civil rights leader, educator, and strategist committed to strengthening democracy. She believes civic literacy, leadership, and public service are essential today. Maqube received the U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Award for her civil rights work and the NAACP Indiana Youth and College as the inaugural award winner of The Jason Hayes Presidents Award, recognizing her dedication to empowering young leaders. 

As a former Conciliation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service under the Biden and Harris administration, she addressed complex challenges in civil rights, public safety, and conflict resolution. Reese also served as an Associate Faculty at Indiana University Bloomington, advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. She was an Associate Director for the Kelley School of Business, recruiting and retaining top talent across the nation. Her experience with real-world practice, coupled with academic scholarship, provides an opportunity to introduce real challenges and navigate a solution-focused mindset.  

Reese currently works at Indiana Black Expo, Inc. as their Director for Youth and Family Programs, a statewide organization, and her belief in democracy is strongest when people understand how and why it CAN work. The principle of Vincent Harding, a predecessor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., historian and peacemaker, guides her. As historian and civil rights scholar Vincent Harding reminded us, "We are all a part of each other." Democracy is not an individual act but an interconnected responsibility. Every election, every conversation, and every generation inherits the work of strengthening the human experience.