PHILADELPHIA — Presidential elections attract the largest number of voters to the polls. So having a plan can help avoid long lines, prevent mistakes and help other voters.

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

Here are five steps to prepare to vote in person.

Step 1: Check your voter registration

Pennsylvania voters can check their registration online by providing their name, Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card number, or by telephone by calling their county election office.

Find the online tool here on PA.gov.

The deadline to register to vote was October 21, so anyone not currently registered will not be able to vote.

If you are an inactive voter, that is, someone who has not voted in two federal elections, you will need to fill out a form at the elections office to reactivate your registration. You may need to show identification, but you will be able to vote as normal.

Step 2: Confirm your polling location

Polling locations sometimes change, so it’s important to make sure you know where you’re going.

Greg Monskie, York County’s director of operations and chief clerk, said there are many reasons why polling locations change.

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“It could be that whoever is organizing the polling place chooses not to, there could be conflict between them on Election Day,” Monskie said. “We will periodically change polling locations if we believe they are not large enough to accommodate the voters we expect – particularly during a presidential election.”

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

The State Department has an online resource where voters can enter their address to find a polling station.

Find it here on PA.gov.

Step 3: Schedule a time to vote

Presidential elections generally attract the largest number of voters. Polling stations are open on November 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The busiest times are usually early in the morning, around lunch and after work.

Voting mid-morning or mid-afternoon, when lines are typically shortest, helps voters avoid lines and reduce wait times for those who need to show up during peak hours.

Step 4: Know What to Bring

Some voters may need to bring additional identification to vote.

Anyone voting in a constituency for the first time must present identification.

This may include a PennDOT driver’s license or ID card, state or federally issued ID, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, student ID, of employee, confirmation issued by the county registrar of voters office, firearm permit. or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check that includes your name and address.

If a voter cannot provide identification, they will be able to vote on a provisional ballot. Once the county confirms its right to vote, the ballot will be counted.

Step 5: Vote

Research the candidates who will appear on your ballot and put your plan into action.

Voters can bring notes or use their phone while filling out a ballot.

Have you requested a postal vote but want to vote in person?

Those who requested an absentee ballot can still vote in person, with a few additional hurdles.

These voters will need to take their ballot and envelope back to their polling place, turn in their ballot and fill out some paperwork, then vote in person. The process will take a few additional minutes, depending on the crowds at the polling station.

Potential voters who do not submit their postal ballot and envelope can only vote provisionally at their polling station. Before the provisional ballot can be counted, the county board of elections will verify that the person did not vote absentee.

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This story is part of an explanatory series focused on the Pennsylvania elections, produced collaboratively by WITF in Harrisburg and The Associated Press.