It’s Election Day, and for many voters, voting isn’t as simple as strolling to a nearby polling place.
On TikTok, people are sharing a new kind of “prepare with me” videos: behind-the-scenes looks at the long journey some people go through to vote in person. These TikTok users shared how they drove nine hours or flew across state lines — all because they felt voting in person was worthwhile, or necessary.
Everyone wants to make sure their vote counts, whether it’s by mail or recorded at a polling station. In most states, you can track the status of your mail-in ballot. In two-thirds of states, voters also have a process to “correct” rejected ballots, the official election term for correcting errors in time for votes to be counted. This way you can ensure your vote has been received and accepted.
If you decide to vote at a designated polling place on Tuesday, rest assured—you’re not alone in this process. The Huffington Post spoke with five people who went to vote in person to learn about their motivations despite the cost of transportation. (Interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.)
“I just knew it was important to show up and do my civic duty.”
“I didn’t turn in my absentee ballot in time. My fiancé is voting by ballot right now in Washington, D.C., and just this morning when he walked to the ballot box, the ballot box was fenced off and police were everywhere. So I know all of this is going on. happened…or there were ballot boxes being set on fire, and I was like, “Even if my ballot arrives in time, I’d rather go to the polls. “
I just knew it was important to show up and fulfill my civic duty and speak for the many women who live in Pennsylvania who may not be willing to vote blue.
I stand for several things. As a woman, I come from an immigrant family. My mom is from Puerto Rico and my biological dad is from Haiti, so yeah, I really wanted to do that. I worked all day on Monday, and then I told my boss, “I’m going to drive from Washington, D.C., to Pennsylvania tonight,” a drive that took about three and a half hours because of the traffic. Arrived here around 9:30-10pm due to heavy traffic. I got up this morning and woke up my brother. It was his first time voting – he’s 20 – and walking to vote with my dad and my brother.
I’m from Lancaster County. Lancaster County is a city with a lot of immigrants, but it also has a lot of people who are very proud to be Republicans and very proudly waving Trump flags. This is a city that’s probably a little more 50-50, so I know one more vote is really important here.
sixty dollars [for driving to vote] It kind of affected me…but that amount of money for a tank of gas feels like nothing compared to what not voting will do to me long-term.
—Betsey, who asked that her full name not be used, drove from Washington, D.C., to Lancaster County, Pa.
“A big storm was coming, so my first few hours of driving were very stressful.”
“I live in Arkansas but temporarily in Texas, so I needed to drive to Arkansas to vote because that’s where I’m registered. That’s my permanent address. I had to wait until I got off work yesterday. At that point, A big storm was coming so the first few hours of my drive were stressful and I couldn’t see anything with the pouring rain…I was just praying and I put on Christmas music in the background to lighten the mood.
But hopefully being able to vote and make sure my voice is heard and hopefully make some history, it’s definitely worth it.
I could have requested an absentee ballot, I was just very passionate and wanted to vote in person and be a part of the experience. I wish my mom and I could have voted for the first female president.
― Savannah Henthorne, driving from Allen, Texas to Greenbrier, Arkansas
“I arrived at the polling place at 5 a.m.”
“I actually registered in Fulton County, Georgia, and I asked for a mail-in ballot to be sent to my mother’s house in mid to late September. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina; I was going there to help her renovate the house she just bought House. I never got the ballot. I kept waiting and at a certain point I knew, ‘If it doesn’t show up in the mail, I might have to drive there. “
I set out around 11:30pm and arrived in Fulton County around 4:30am, then I stopped to use the restroom…I did want to take a nap. I can’t for several reasons. One of them is energy drinks to wake me up. But second, I was worried that I would be so tired because I had been up for almost 24 hours by then that I wouldn’t hear the alarm on my phone.
I arrived at the polling station at 5 a.m. and was the first voter there. I felt like I needed to be there and my vote was more important than me saying, “Oh, it’s a long drive.” I also used to drive a truck, so I was used to driving long distances.
I could have used that $200 [round trip for gas and snacks] Go somewhere else. I kind of needed it to go somewhere else, but I thought, “I can make the $200 back later.” So it was definitely worth it.
Seeing Kamala Harris win was very special to me. I truly believe she will win and that she will take the necessary steps to make this country a progressive country again.
—Zyereri Jackson, driving from Charleston, South Carolina, to Fulton County, Georgia
‘This will be [around] The total was $90, which was a lot for a broke college student.
“I have ADHD, so I have some procrastination issues. The election was coming up and I was starting to get a little nervous.
I currently live in Colorado and I am trying to delete my registration in Washington and try to register in Colorado. However, I couldn’t request an absentee ballot because it was so close to the election. Therefore, I cannot vote in Grand Junction where I go to school, so I have to go to Denver where my license is registered to vote in person. I spent six hours [and a half] I took the bus here to vote today. That’s a lot. And I don’t like taking the bus.
Almost from the moment I received that letter [informing me I was too late to vote by mail]I didn’t have any hesitation. The only concern was finding the money for the bus tickets. One way trip is about $45. So this will be [around] A total of $90 was a lot for a broke college student. But once I was able to achieve that, I basically didn’t think about anything else other than going — I just felt like it was important to me.
—Lena Conn, traveling from Grand Junction, Colorado to Denver
“I’m very aware that I’m financially well-positioned to be able to do this.”
“I’m an opera singer living in Atlanta, Georgia… I’m very lucky with my schedule. I’m right now between shows at the Metropolitan Opera in New York… I had to ask the Met for a release and they were so generous The land gave me permission to travel.
I decided to fly back to vote for two reasons. First: I think this is very important. Second: Let’s be honest, the state’s postal service has been ridiculously slow over the past few years.
I thought, if I had the option to fly out of New York and I could be here to make sure my vote was counted, that would probably be the best thing. That’s why I chose to fly back. I remember the flight cost over $500. I’m very aware that I’m financially privileged enough to do this without worrying too much about the cost of it.
Your support has never been more important
Support Huffington Post
Already contributed? Sign in to hide these messages.
But that being said, it’s definitely worth it to me as a woman, as a queer person – I feel like this election is about existence. If I didn’t get the chance to fly back, I would absolutely vote by mail. I would have participated anyway, but it made me feel safer.
― Jamie Barton flies from New York to Atlanta
