Make your provisional ballot count with help from VoteRiders.org
What is a Provisional Ballot and How to Make it Count
What is a provisional ballot? A provisional ballot records your vote when there are questions about your eligibility to cast a regular ballot. Provisional ballots serve as a back-up option to make sure eligible voters aren’t turned away from the polls. In some states, they may be called challenged, affidavit, questioned, or special ballots. Learn more from VoteRiders here.
VoteRiders provides free help to make sure all Americans get to have their vote count. Here’s a summary of what they advise about how to make sure your provisional ballot is counted. Call or text the VoteRiders Helpline at 866–432-8683 or complete this form to get started.
In a hurry? Listen to the 12 min audio summary
A provisional ballot records your vote when there are questions about your eligibility to cast a regular ballot. Provisional ballots serve as a back-up option to make sure eligible voters aren’t turned away from the polls. In some states, they may be called challenged, affidavit, questioned, or special ballots.
You may have to cast a provisional ballot if you don’t bring your state’s required IDs to the polls or present an ID that is not accepted in your state. What happens next depends on where you are voting. You might have to take additional steps for your ballot to be counted.You could also be asked to cast a provisional ballot for a reason unrelated to voter ID, such as voting at the wrong polling location or your name not appearing on the voter registration list.
Election officials should provide you with a receipt and written instructions on any additional steps you need to take to ensure your provisional ballot is counted. You should receive your receipt and instructions before you leave your voting location.
You cast a provisional ballot because of your ID…what happens next?
Several voter ID states require voters who cast a provisional ballot because of an ID issue to return with an accepted form of ID to make their provisional ballot count. This process is called “curing” your provisional ballot. Your state determines where you need to bring your ID and the deadline for presenting it.
Other states do not require you to cure your provisional ballot. In these states, election officials will confirm your identity and eligibility without you taking any further action after you vote. You will typically be asked to sign a form or ballot envelope confirming your identity at the polls. Your state might also request that you present a secondary form of ID, such as a document containing your name and address.
Some states will count your provisional ballot if the signature you provide matches the signature on your voter registration. If it does not, an election official may contact you with information on how you can confirm your identity another way.
Here’s how to cure your provisional ballot if you live in one of these 7 states:
OHIO: If you voted a provisional ballot because you didn’t have the right ID, you’ll need to bring an accepted photo ID to your county’s Board of Elections Office within 4 days after Election Day (Saturday, November 9). If you have a religious objection to being photographed, you can sign an affidavit instead.
NORTH CAROLINA: If you don’t have the right ID, you can sign an ID exception form at the polls today! If you did cast a provisional ballot because you didn’t have an acceptable ID, you have until 5 pm on Thursday, November 7 to return to your county’s Board of Elections Office with a copy of an accepted photo ID. Or, you can sign an ID exception form once you’re there instead.
If you’re voting absentee, make sure to include an acceptable ID! If you didn’t, you can cure your absentee ballot by emailing a copy of your photo ID to your county’s Board of Elections Office. But, if you voted in person and had to cast a provisional ballot because you didn’t have ID, you’ll have to cure your ballot in person.
GEORGIA: If you voted a provisional ballot because you didn’t have the right ID, you have until 5 pm on Friday, November 8, to take an accepted ID to your county Voter Registrar.
If your absentee ballot was rejected because of an ID or signature issue, you also have until Friday, November 8, to complete an absentee ballot application cure form. Or, you can vote in person today!
TEXAS: If you do not have the right ID, you might still be able to vote today! Just bring a supporting ID ( like your voter registration certificate or US birth certificate) and sign a “reasonable impediment declaration” form at the polls.
If you do vote a provisional ballot because you don’t have an acceptable ID, you have to visit your county’s Voter Registration Office within 6 days after Election Day (Monday, November 11) to cure your ballot. Take ONE of the following steps to make sure your ballot is counted:
- Show one of the 7 accepted forms of photo ID.
- Sign a reasonable impediment declaration and bring a supporting form of ID.
- If it applies, submit a temporary affidavit (like a religious objection to being photographed or being impacted by a natural disaster).
- If eligible, apply for a permanent disability exemption.
FLORIDA: If you vote in person and don’t have an accepted photo ID, you have to cast a provisional ballot. Your provisional ballot will count if:
- Your signature on the Provisional Ballot Certificate matches the signature on your voter registration record.
- You’re registered and voting in the correct precinct.
If your signature doesn’t match, you need to confirm your identity with your county’s Supervisor of Elections by 5 pm on Thursday, November 7. To do this, you can provide any ONE of the following:
- Florida driver’s license number
- Florida state ID card number
- The last 4 digits of your Social Security number
- Complete an affidavit
ARIZONA: If you cast a “conditional provisional ballot” because you don’t have an accepted ID, take ONE of the following steps to make sure your ballot is counted:
- Return to your polling place with an accepted ID by 7:00 pm on Election Day, November 5.
- Or, bring your accepted ID to your County Board of Elections or County Clerk’s Office by Saturday, November 10.
WISCONSIN: If you cast a provisional ballot because you didn’t have the right photo ID, you can make sure your ballot counts by doing ONE of the following:
- Return with an accepted photo ID before the polls close on Election Day, November 5.
- Or, bring an accepted photo ID to your municipal Clerk’s Office by 4 pm on Friday, November 8.
Make your provisional ballot count!
VoteRiders is here to help! We’re here to answer provisional ballot questions or help you figure out how to make sure your ballot counts. We can help you get an accepted form of ID to cure your ballot and provide transportation to your local ID-issuing office or election office – all for free!
Call or text the VoteRiders Helpline at 866–432-8683 or complete this form to get started.
TakeAway: Make your provisional ballot count!
Deepak
DemLabs
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Reposted from Democracy Labs with permission.