Voters in Pennsylvania? Here's what you should know if you plan to go to the polls on Tuesday

Presidential elections bring the most voters to the polls, but a plan can help avoid long lines, avoid mistakes and help fellow voters.

All polling places in Pennsylvania will be open on Election Day, November 5th, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. can vote.

Here are five steps to prepare for in-person voting.

Step 1: Verify your voter registration

Voters in Pennsylvania can verify their registration on-line by providing their name, Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT ID card number, or by calling them by telephone District election office.

The deadline to register to vote was October 21st. Therefore, people who are not currently registered cannot vote.

If you are an inactive voter, meaning someone who has not voted in two federal elections, you will need to fill out a form at the election office to reactivate your registration. You may have to Show IDbut you can vote as usual.

Step 2: Confirm your polling location

Polling locations sometimes change, so it's important that you know exactly where you're going.

Greg Monskie, chief operations officer and chief clerk for York County, said there are many reasons why polling locations change.

“It could be that whoever is hosting the polling place decides not to, there could be a conflict on election day,” Monskie said. “We will periodically make changes to polling locations if we believe they are not large enough to accommodate expected voters — particularly in a presidential election.”

He said voters affected by these changes have received a notice in the mail informing them of their new polling location.

The State Department has one Online resource Voters can enter their address here to find a polling place.

Step 3: Schedule a time to vote

Presidential elections tend to attract the most voters. Polling stations will be open on November 5th from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m

The busiest times are usually morning, around lunchtime and after work.

Voting in the morning or afternoon, when lines are typically shortest, can help voters avoid lines and reduce wait times for those who need to show up during peak hours.

Step 4: Know what you need to bring

Some voters may need to bring additional identification to vote.

Anyone voting in a district for the first time must show ID.

This may include a driver's license or PennDOT ID card, a state or federal government-issued ID card, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military ID card, a student ID card, an employee ID card, a county voter registration office-issued endorsement, and a firearms permit or one Copy of a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check that includes your name and address.

If a voter cannot provide ID, they can vote provisionally. Once the county confirms that they are eligible to vote, the ballot will be counted.

Step 5: Vote

Research the candidates This will be on your ballot and put your plan into action. Voters can bring notes or use their phone while filling out a ballot.

Have you applied for a postal vote but would like to vote in person?

Anyone who has requested a postal vote can still vote in person, subject to a few additional hurdles.

These voters must bring their ballot and return envelope to their polling place, drop off their ballot, fill out some paperwork and then vote in person. The process may take a few minutes longer depending on how busy the polling station is.

Interested parties who do not submit the mail-in ballot and envelope may do so You can only vote provisionally at your polling station. Before the provisional ballot can be counted, the county elections board checks whether the person did not vote by mail.

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This story is part of an explanatory series focusing on Pennsylvania's elections, produced in collaboration between WITF in Harrisburg and The Associated Press.

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The AP receives support from several private foundations to improve its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. Learn more about AP's Democracy Initiative Here.