diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/first_rc_checklist.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/first_rc_checklist.md
index 65e68f489..36caeba63 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/first_rc_checklist.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/first_rc_checklist.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ labels: task
     * [ ] "remaining Pull-Requests from milestone".
 * [ ] Create X.Y release branch `releaseX.Y`
     * [ ] Update `CHANGE_LOG` in a PR targeting the release branch.
+    * [ ] Follow the format of previous `CHANGE_LOG` entries.
 * [ ] Get the change-log-PR reviewed and merged.
 * [ ] Test `HEAD` of release branch on buildfarm (pre-tag testing):
     * [ ] conda package build and test.
@@ -25,11 +26,10 @@ labels: task
 * [ ] Verify wheels for all platforms arrived on PyPi.
 * [ ] Initialize and verify ReadTheDocs build.
 * [ ] Send RC announcement email / post announcement to discourse group.
-* [ ] Post link to Twitter and Mastodon and anywhere else that is appropriate.
+* [ ] Post link to X and Mastodon and anywhere else that is appropriate.
 
 ### Post Release:
 
-* [ ] Cherry-pick changes to the `CHANGE_LOG` to `main`
 * [ ] Clean up `ci_artifacts` by moving files to subdirectories
 * [ ] Tag X.Y+1.0dev0 to start new development cycle on `main`.
 * [ ] Update release checklist template with any additional bullet points that
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/sub_rc_checklist.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/sub_rc_checklist.md
index 4b952b164..130691af1 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/sub_rc_checklist.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/sub_rc_checklist.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ labels: task
 
 ### Post release
 
-* [ ] Cherry-pick changes to the `CHANGE_LOG` to `main`
+* [ ] Cherry-pick changes to the `CHANGE_LOG` to `main`. (FINAL ONLY)
 * [ ] Clean up `ci_artifacts` by moving files to subdirectories
 * [ ] Update release checklist template with any additional bullet points that
       may have arisen during the release.