There’s little doubt that passions are running high in this election year. The contest between former President Donald Trump and his vice-presidential pick, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, and Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is not only expected to be close, but Americans have strong feelings about the outcome. Indeed, the next president may be the candidate who can best mobilize supporters.

And that may also be true in Maryland’s U.S. Senate race between former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic candidate, as the outcome may come down to what insiders call “GOTV” or “get out the vote,” the time-honored tradition of getting supporters to show up at the polls or otherwise cast their ballots.

Given the importance of these races — not to mention down-ballot decisions that include a closely contested face-off between former Del. Neil Parrott and attorney April McClain Delaney in the 6th Congressional District, which runs from Montgomery County through Western Maryland, and Baltimore’s Question F, which may (or may not) decide the future of Harborplace depending on a pending decision by the state’s highest court — Maryland voters would be wise to plan now how they intend to cast their ballots. Election Day is Nov. 5, but there are options that many voters may find more convenient, especially given how busy polling places may be on the big day. Based on the 2020 race, some Maryland subdivisions may see a turnout of 80% of eligible voters, compared with 50 to 60% in state election years.

How best to proceed? First, make sure you are registered to vote. You need to be a state resident and turn 18 by Election Day (and not be incarcerated on a felony conviction). You need an ID and proof of residency to register as a Maryland voter but not to vote. If you have voted in a previous election, you are probably still registered. If you have not voted recently, check to ensure you are active by visiting the State Board of Elections website, vote.md.gov/StatusSearch. In any case, the same website can check your registration status and provide directions for further action.

Next, decide on one of your three voting options. All are safe and secure. It comes down to convenience. You can request a mail-in ballot (by mail or web), and you have until Oct. 29 to have it delivered by mail or Nov. 1 by the web. You can then return it by mail (postmarked by Election Day) or by leaving it at one of the state’s 286 drop boxes. Option 2: Early Voting centers will be open statewide from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. the week of Oct. 24 to Oct. 31. All you need is to be in the county where you are registered; early voting is not precinct specific. Just show up, and election officials will provide the ballot that applies to your circumstances.

And, finally, there’s traditional voting on Election Day, open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. For that, you are expected to cast a ballot in your specific precinct (but can fill out a “provisional” ballot if you show up in a different one and, if your registration is then verified, will still be counted for the offices and questions you are eligible to vote).

Again, the State Board of Elections website has all the details on all three options, including how to find your precinct, your dropbox, and — in an especially useful tip — why it’s better to get your mail-in ballot by mail than by printing it out on your computer (because you get free postage by the former).

One more suggestion: Be kind to your election officials and the folks as young as 16 who serve as election judges to help keep things running free and fair. In this post-Jan. 6 era of social media misinformation, they can sometimes be harassed or threatened. Meanwhile, you can report disinformation about voting if you come across any (the SBE website has a “rumor control” section) and further stand up for democracy.