Students have registered in unprecedented numbers for the upcoming election. The youth vote will undoubtedly have a huge impact, but there are several things you should do to make sure your vote counts.

First of all, confirm your registration. You can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE and operators will hopefully help you make sure the registration form you filled out has been processed and that you have been placed on the voting rolls.

I can’t guarantee that you’ll get a human being, so you’re probably better off going to www.elections.state.ny.us; the first thing you should see in the middle of the page is “Look up your voter registration and confirm your polling place.” Click that and give them your information. This will tell you where to vote, whether or not you’re “active” and it’ll even indicate if you’re enrolled in a party, just in case you were concerned that someone switched your party ID after you handed in the form or something.

Knowing the location of your polling place is extremely important. Many people think you can vote at any polling place, but the fact of the matter is that each poll has its own list of registered voters and if you aren’t on that list, you cannot vote. If the address you used to register is on campus (on campus, not near campus) then you will be voting in the SAC Ballroom. If you went to the website above and you still don’t know where this place is, then you can go online to maps.google.com/vote and type in the address at which you registered; your polling place should pop up on the map. Then you can even get directions and hire someone to escort you. Okay, that last part I made up.

Another reason people get turned down is because they don’t have the proper identification. Some, but not all voters in New York State are required to present an identification at the polls. I believe that first-time voters are always required, but acceptable forms of identification include a driver’s license (or other department of motor vehicles photo ID) or most other current and valid photo ID. You can also bring a copy of a utility bill, a bank statement, a government check or other document that shows your name and address. They essentially need you to show that you are who you say you are and that you’re supposed to be voting at that particular poll.

If for some reason you get denied, do not leave the polling place without casting a ballot. If your name is not on the voter list, or you went to the wrong polling place, or you do not have the correct ID, you still have the right to vote. Ask for a provisional ballot. You can then call the county election office later that day to confirm that your ballot has been processed.

If you think a poll worker is illegally challenging your right to vote or if someone is intimidating you, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE and speak with an election lawyer, if possible. This could be the most important election of your lifetime, make sure your vote counts.