Mental Floss

If the Polls Close While You’re Still in Line to Vote, Don’t Leave

You can stay as long as it takes to cast your vote.

Abbey Stone|
Voters waiting to vote.
Voters waiting to vote. | Hill Street Studios/GettyImages

Election Day is upon us, and according to CNN, more than 78 million early ballots were cast this year. That’s around 50 percent of the people expected to vote in this election—a decrease from 2020, when about 70 percent of people voted early or by mail.

That could mean that people who have waited until Election Day to vote could be faced with some long lines and wait times. So what should you do if you’re stuck at the back of the line when your polling place closes? You stay right where you are.

If you didn’t take advantage of your state’s voting time-off laws to cast your ballot during the workday (if your state has them, that is), there’s a good chance you’ll be caught in an after-work crush. But don’t despair! As long as you are in line at closing time, you have a legal right to vote—so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. In fact, if someone does attempt to force you to leave, you are encouraged to call a voter protection hotline such as 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

These hotlines are also available to help you if you witness acts of voter intimidation or discrimination. As they say: If you see something, say something!

Read More About Elections:

A version of this story ran in 2016; it has been updated for 2024.

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