This upcoming November, one of the most important elections in American history, is fast approaching. The future of this country — and the power we give to the president — is in our hands. Thus voting is more important than ever.

Voting not only helps us establish better leadership but it can help bring the nation together. However, it may be a little hard to understand how to vote or know where exactly to start due to logistical reasons such as not knowing how to check eligibility to vote or even where to register to vote.

This election year is a bit different. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the nation deeply, there are several different options to still be involved in the democratic process while following social distancing practices. While maintaining the six feet social distance rules during the voting period will be active, you also have the option to vote early if you don’t want to risk being in a long line or can’t make it to the general election date. One way to follow safety procedures is through online voting registration and requesting a mail-in/absentee ballot.

If you’re a first-time voter and have not registered yet, now is the time to do so. Many states have different registration deadlines so you should check to see if you’re already registered and eligible to vote before Election Day. There are many ways you can check such as going to Vote.org for a much simpler and faster way to get all your information to vote.

Through this interactive map below, you can click on your state and it will take you directly to the official voting website which will provide information about the specifics and rules on voting via absentee ballots.