How Do I Make Sure My Vote is Counted?

Absentee/VBM Best Practices

There are a few things you can do to help ensure your vote, once cast, is delivered and counted:

Follow all ballot directions fully and carefully. Your ballot will come with specific directions for how to fill it out; where and how to sign it; what you need to include when you return it; and other specific instructions such as witness or notary signatures. Read them through before you fill out your ballot. Most state elections sites have their absentee ballot instructions posted if you want to plan ahead before receiving your ballot.

Track your ballot if possible. Forty-seven states and D.C. have a way for you to track your ballot, either online or by contacting your local elections office. You can visit our State Voting Pages to find a link to yours (if available).

Plan to return your ballot in person. Even if your current plan is to return your ballot through the Postal Service, there may come a point when it is too late to do so and be sure your vote will be delivered on time. Knowing when, where, and how to hand-deliver your ballot is, at worst, a good backup plan in case it is too close to the election to be sure you're ballot will arrive on time via mail.

Learn About Dropping Off Your Ballot In Person

Vote In-Person Best Practices

Check if you can vote early, BEFORE Election Day. Many states off in-person voting in the weeks prior to Election Day. Lines are typically shorter during early voting than on Election Day; plus, you'll already be done ahead of time! Check whether your state offers early voting, where early voting sites are located, and when early voting occurs. (All of this is on our state pages).

Give yourself TIME. The point of having a plan is to give yourself time to deal with problems. Many of the mistakes people make when voting are because they didn't give themselves enough time to ensure that all the steps they need to take were followed correctly. Can you get Election Day off? Are you free on any day when your state offers early voting? Plan ahead so that you don't fall behind.

Bring everything you need with you, including a valid ID. Many states have some sort of ID requirement to prove your identity when you show up to vote. Knowing which types of ID are acceptable, and which you'll be using, will help prevent a range of problems when you go to vote. Many states also have alternatives when you don't have a valid ID; learn about those so that you can prepare.

Know how to contact your local election authority. Whether it's your town clerk, county Board of Elections, or something else entirely, have their contact information so that you can ask for updated information on early vote locations, voter ID requirements, and other voting-related questions. Calling them if you have a question or there is an issue is the fastest way to get the information you need before or after your vote has been cast.

When all else fails, REQUEST A PROVISIONAL BALLOT. Maybe you'll have to return with proof of identification, depending on the state, but if there are issues with your registration or ID, and you are not allowed a regular ballot, you should always request and cast a provisional ballot before you leave. Make sure to ask what you'll need to do to make sure your provisional ballot is deemed valid and counted.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse