Wouldn’t it be ironic if you go to all the trouble to show up to vote on election day, only to have your vote not count (or not even be allowed to vote) because your name has been purged from the election rolls?

Several states are purging hundreds of thousands of voters from their rolls, often removing legitimate voters. And in some states, they don’t even notify you if your name is removed.

CBS has done a special report on this issue:

Luckily, the fine folks at VotersUnite.org have a handy-dandy web page that tells you how you can check to make sure you are registered to vote. Another good resource is the Can I Vote website, which tells you on a state-by-state basis how to check if you are registered to vote. Even if you voted recently, it is good to check as 19 states are purging their voter lists before the upcoming election.

And remember, if you show up to vote but they claim that you are not registered, you should always ask for a provisional ballot. Given the stakes this year, it is probably a good idea to bring with you some ID, including proof of your current address.

And it is a good idea to have your friends and family check to see if they are still registered, as well.

Strange things can happen when you go to vote, so don’t let what happened to Homer Simpson happen to you: