Related: 3 simple ways to help this election year, besides voting yourself
Starting today, parents in select areas of the country can register for a minimum 4-hour block of free childcare on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. I've been using Care.com to find babysitters for years now, and the YMCA? Well it's been a crucial sanity-saver for me since I became a parent, so it's no surprise to me that they're teaming up to help parents -- and, you know -- preserve democracy. The service is available in select cities in 11 states including San Diego, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Augusta, GA; Rochester, NY; Oklahoma City, OK; Ogden, UT, and six Texas locations -- and bonus for military parents, a few locations are on bases, just for you. We wish it could be in more cities but hey, it's a terrific effort and will mean a lot for a lot of parents. I've been seeing some incredibly long, and definitely not kid-friendly, long lines during early voting, and while I hope Election Day looks different, I'm glad that parents will have have a guaranteed kid-free time block to vote, knowing your kids are in great hand. Instead of packing a day's worth of crayons and crackers. Oof. Register at the Armed Services YMCA website now to reserve your spot. Slots will book quickly so hurry! Top image: Glen Carrie via Unsplash


