5 People Reveal The Lengths They Went Through To Vote In Person — And They're Wild

Voters share the commute time, cost and big hurdles they overcame to cast their ballot.

It’s Election Day, and for many voters, casting a ballot is not just a simple stroll to their neighborhood polling station.

On TikTok, people are sharing a new kind of “Get Ready With Me” video: a behind-the-scenes look at the long journeys some individuals are taking to cast a vote in person. These TikTokers have shared how they drove for nine hours or flew across state lines ― all because they felt voting in person was worth it, or necessary.

Everyone wants to make sure their vote counts, whether it’s recorded via a mail-in ballot or at the polls. In most states, you can track the status of your mail-in ballot. In two-thirds of states, there is also a process for voters to “cure” the denial, which is the official election term for addressing mistakes in time for a ballot to be counted. This way, you can make sure your vote was received and accepted.

And if you are determined to vote Tuesday at your designated polling place, take heart ― you’re not alone in this journey. HuffPost talked to five people who traveled to vote in person about what motivated them to do so in spite of the transportation costs. (Interviews have been lightly edited for clarity and length.)

‘I just knew it was really important to show up and just do my civic duty.’