You voted, but has your vote counted?
Millions of mail-in ballots are expected to be rejected during this election. With a few hours until Election Day, now would be a good time to check the status of your ballot. People unfamiliar with the vote-by-mail process and those who need assistance in filling out ballots face more complications when it comes to ballot verification. Studies on recent elections and mail-in voting have shown that minorities and young first-time voters are disproportionately affected when it comes to rejected mail-in ballots which are excluded from the voting process. In Florida, a study conducted in 2018 found that mail ballots completed by Black, Hispanic, and other minorities are around twice as likely to be rejected than mailed ballots completed by white voters. And in Georgia, another state studied during 2018, it was found that newly registered voters, including young and minority voters, who submitted mailed ballots saw a 4-7% higher rejection rate than for white voters.
How to avoid ballot rejection:
1.Drop off your ballot, the deadline is tomorrow!
The postal service now says it cannot guarantee on-time delivery of mailed ballots this close to Election Day. If you are still holding on to your ballot, it's time to drop it off at the nearest official ballot drop box. You have until 7 pm on November 3rd to return your ballot.
2. I don't know what to do- my ballot never came!
If you’ve lost your mail-in ballot or never received it, you can sign an affidavit at your polling place swearing you did not already cast your ballot. Be sure to take COVID precautions when standing in line to vote in-person.
3. Oops! I made a big mistake while filling out my ballot
If you’ve made a mistake on your mail-in ballot, you can surrender it at your polling place and still cast your vote. If it is a small error follow the directions on your ballot on the best way to void mistakes.
4. I can’t remember how I signed my name
SIGN your ballot with the signature that you believe you are registered under. Signatures often change with time, and this is the most common reason for rejection. If your ballot was rejected due to signature mismatch, you have the opportunity to appeal the rejection. Contact your local clerk: they are required to give you a reason for rejection and ways to remedy it.
5. Put away the glittered green gel pen
Use BLUE or BLACK INK only when filling out your ballot.
6. Make sure to check your ballot status online!
Ensure your mailed ballot was verified by your clerk. If your ballot was rejected for a reason other than signature, such as damage to the envelope, you may still submit a ballot before or on Election Day. Contact your election officials immediately.
7. I decided to go in-person
If you decide to vote in-person and are turned away wrongly, do not leave. It is your constitutional right to vote; have your poll worker double check your eligibility or ask them to contact your clerk’s office to verify. You may also fill out a provisional ballot and verify your registration at a later time.
If you do decide to go in person, make sure to bring a mask, hand sanitizer, and gloves. Check out www.votesaveamerica.com/plan to check out your ballot ahead of time. There is an option to view all the individuals and propositions you would vote for. This will minimize your exposure time to others during Election Day.
8. I felt unsafe while trying to vote
If you feel you were intimidated or illegally turned away, call 866-OUR-VOTE to seek help from voting rights lawyers.
In any typical election year, the vulnerabilities of mail voting would not be laid bare, primarily because mail voting wouldn’t be such a core election issue. But in the 2020 election, with the coronavirus claiming 230,000 lives and infecting 9 million more, we are now more than ever forced to contend with the uncomfortable flaws of absentee voting.
In Cook County alone, nearly half a million people have already voted early as of October 29th, including over 200,000 mailed ballots. If you have not gotten a chance to vote or have not received an update that your ballot has been counted, please contact your local officials as soon as possible.
Happy Election Day folks!
Author: Arjun Batra is a second year undergraduate at the University of Michigan, who is pursuing the pre-medical career path. He is interesting in studying health inequities in public health, particularly involving people with disabilities. He joined ACTION to explore the relationship between civic engagement and community health, especially in minority communities.
