The day we have all been waiting for has finally come. We have watched the debates, prayed for better options, been shocked by the reality TV storylines and have made our decisions. Whether you voted early, absentee, have decided to abstain from voting, or are ready to wait in line to cast your ballot, you have a stake in history on Tuesday, November 8, even if you think that your vote doesn't matter, this year it does. November 8 may end on the east coast before the polls close on the west coast, but all eyes will be on New York City, where Clinton and Trump will wait for every poll to close. Be prepared for history to be made by having a game plan.
Tune in.
CNN is live starting the weekend before through all of the election results. Fox News will have election updates throughout Tuesday. NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, and FOX will be live with election coverage after the local evening news. Facebook and YouTube will be live streaming the results and Twitter is partnering with Buzz Feed, to stream a live video the entire time. There is no way you won't be able to get play-by-play.
Vote Early.
Get out and vote before you have to wait in line. Get your sticker and wear it proud. That way you can lay low the rest of the day, hopefully feeling like you made the right decision.
Stock up on snacks.
Pick up comfort food, pizza, mac and cheese, tacos, chipotle, whatever you need to survive. Maybe the future of our country is in question, but at least you'll feel good about one thing. It could be a short night, or it could be over after midnight. You'll want to be prepared to stay up to watch history being made. You might need some beer or wine to stay sane as well.
Turn your phone off.
Don't call your friends when your candidate beats your friends'. Call your parents, cry to your best friend who voted for the same candidate as you. Don't rub it in other people's faces or make social media posts that you'll regret in the future. As Americans, we might not agree but we can support our future president so that our future may be better. This election has been fueled by hatred, so bite your tongue and don't drunk text.
Have a dog nearby.
You will need more comfort than pizza and wine. Have cute fluffy animals nearby to make yourself feel better about the state of the country. Maybe there will be riots and heightened terror threats, but all you need to stay sane and happy is a fluffy puppy and Papa Johns. What's more American than that?
