Preparing for Election Day

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- It's easy to be overwhelmed by the candidates, the issues and even the process of voting. But it's up to you to use your vote. Here are some tips to use as a guide.

Just getting to the polls sometimes can be challenging. To find out where you have to go, check out vote411.org and type in your address.

You will also be able to find out what kind of ID you need to bring to the polling place. In most cases, you'll have to provide a picture ID. You can also go to your own state's board of elections Web site to get this information.

It's easy to get lost in campaign stump speeches and rhetoric. To get the lowdown on where candidates stand - from the economy to education and foreign policy, check out our election coverage.

To track poll results, check out cnn.com/tracker. And it's not only the future president you'll be choosing, there are a number of local offices that you'll get to cast your vote for, too.

There are seats up for election in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate and many other state and local elections, too.

To get voting records and biographical information on your local officials, go to vote-smart.org. Or, call
1-888-VOTE-SMART.

Want to check up on who your neighbor is donating to? Check out fundrace.org to see just how much your neighbors or celebrities are giving to various political parties.