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Ballot curing rules

Ballot curing is the process of fixing any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. You will have very little time to fix issues with your ballot, so act quickly.

  1. Use your state's online ballot tracking tool to check whether your ballot has been received and counted. If your state does not have an online tool, call your local election office and ask.

  2. If your absentee ballot was rejected and it's before Election Day, you can probably still vote in person on Election Day at your polling place. Your local election office can provide more information about the rules around voting in person after your ballot was rejected.

  3. If your ballot was rejected and it's after Election Day, you will need to act quickly. In most cases you will need to appear in person at your local election office with photo ID within 2-3 days of Election Day.

If anything on this page is incorrect, please fill out this form.

Alabama
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign the return envelope, or do not have it notarized or signed by 2 witnesses.
  • You will not be allowed to fix this issue. Your ballot will simply not be counted.
Alaska
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign the outside envelope.
  • Your ballot will also be rejected if it's missing a witness signature or notary signature.
Arizona
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign the outside envelope. If this is the case, you have until 7:00 pm on Election Day to fix this issue.
  • Your ballot will be rejected if your signature on the ballot does not not match your signature on your voter registration form.
  • You have until 5:00 pm on the 5th day after Election Day to fix this issue for federal elections.
  • You have until 5:00 pm on the 3rd day after Election Day to fix this issue for state and local elections.

Arizona law says, "Election officials shall make reasonable efforts to contact the voter, advise the voter of the inconsistent signature, and allow the voter to correct or the county to confirm the inconsistent signature."

Arizona law says, "The county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall allow signatures to be corrected not later than the fifth business day after a primary, general or special election that includes a federal office or the third business day after any other election." If a signature is missing altogether, "the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall make reasonable efforts to contact the elector, advise the elector of the missing signature, and allow the elector to add the elector's signature not later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day."

Arkansas
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it, if your signature doesn't match the signature the state has on file for you, or if you forget to include a copy of your ID with your voted ballot.
  • You must fix these issues by noon on the Monday after Election Day for your vote to count.

Arkansas law says, "A provisional ballot cast by a voter who did not present a required document or identification card shall be counted if.... the voter returns to the county board of election commissioners or the county clerk by 12:00 noon on the Monday following the election..."

California
  • Your ballot will be rejected if your signature is missing or if your signature does not match the signature already on file.
  • You must fix these issues by 5:00 pm two days prior to the certification of the election for your vote to be counted.

California law says, "Voters of ballots with mismatching signatures are notified a minimum of eight days prior to certification of the election."

Election officials must give voters notice of defects with their mail ballot by telephone, text message, or email if such contact information is in the voter's record, and officials must leave a voicemail for voters who do not answer a telephone call.

California law says, "The signature verification statement must be received by the elections official of the county where you are registered to vote no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to certification of the election."

Colorado
  • Your ballot will be rejected if your signature is missing or if your signature does not match the state records.
  • You must fix any issues by 11:59 pm on the 8th day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Colorado law says, "Voters of ballots with missing/mismatching signatures are notified by mail within three days (or within two days after the election) of any discrepancy." Voters may also be notified by email if an email address is available.

Colorado law says, "If the county clerk and recorder receives the confirmation form from the voter within eight days after Election Day with a copy of the elector's ID, or the completed affidavit, as applicable, and if the ballot is otherwise valid, the ballot counts."

Connecticut
  • Your ballot will be rejected if your signature is missing, or if your signature does not match the one the state has on file for you.
Delaware
  • Your ballot will be rejected if your signature is missing or if your signature does not match the one the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
District of Columbia
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it, or if your signature does not match the signature D.C. has on record for you.
  • You'll have until the 10th day after Election Day to cure a defective ballot.

In the case of finding a defective ballot, the DC Board of Elections will send you a letter specifying the problems with your ballot.

If there is an issue with a voted mail ballot, the voter will receive a letter from the D.C. Board of Elections that specifies the problem with the ballot. The voter will have up to ten days to resolve the issue (cure the ballot).

Florida
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the signature the state has on file.
  • Your local election office might contact you by mail, phone, text message, or e-mail to let you know.
  • You must fix the issues by 5:00 pm on the 2nd day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Florida law says, "County election supervisors shall notify any voter whose signature is missing or doesn’t match records." The county supervisor must attempt to notify the voter of the deficiency and the cure process via phone, text, or email, as well as by first class mail. First class mail is not required beginning the day before the election.

Florida law says, "Voters may cure ballots until 5 p.m. on the second day after the election."

Georgia
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the signature the state has on file for you.
  • Your ballot will also be rejected if you fail to include required ID information.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 3rd day after Election Day in order for your vote to count.

When a ballot is rejected, the voter must be notified by phone, email, and in writing. This notice must take place within 3 business days of rejection of the ballot if the rejection takes place more than 11 days before Election Day. If the rejection takes place within 11 days of Election Day, notification to the voter must take place by the end of the next business day.

Georgia law says, "The voter then has until 3 days after the election to submit voter ID in conjunction with an affidavit confirming the ballot was in fact theirs in order to cure the ballot."

Hawaii
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the state records.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 5th day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Hawaii law says, "Local election officials shall make an attempt to notify the voter by first-class mail, telephone or electronic mail to inform the voter of the procedure to correct the deficiency."

Hawaii law says, "The voter shall have five business days after the date of the election to cure the deficiency."

Idaho
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the state records.
  • Deadlines to make corrections vary. Contact your Local Election Office to find out the deadline in your county.
Illinois
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You have 14 days after Election Day to fix the issues with your ballot in order for it to be counted.

Illinois law says, "Voters are notified by mail of a rejected ballot within two days of rejection."

Illinois law says, "The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected."

Indiana
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the one on file for you.
  • You have until NOON 8 days after Election Day to fix a signature issue with your ballot in order for it to be counted.

Indiana law specifies that election officials must notify an absentee voter of a signature mismatch determination within two business days after the determination is made by election officials.

Indiana law requires that, in the event of a signature mismatch, a voter submit a signed signature verification affidavit no later than noon eight days after Election Day.

Iowa
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by close of polls on Election Day for your vote to count.

Iowa law says, "If a ballot affidavit is incomplete or absent, the commissioner must notify the voter within 24 hours."

Iowa law says, "A voter may vote a replacement ballot until the day before the election or vote at the voter’s precinct polling place."

Kansas
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it, or if your signature does not match the signature the state has on record.
  • The ballot curing deadline varies by county. Contact your Local Election Office to find out the deadline in your county.

Kansas law says, "The county election officer shall attempt to contact each person who submits an advance voting ballot where there is no signature or where the signature does not match with the signature on file."

Kansas law says voters are allowed "the opportunity to correct the deficiency before the commencement of the final county canvass.”

Kentucky
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You must fix issues with your ballot before the close of polls on Election Day in order for it to be counted.

Under Kentucky law, "Election officials shall make a reasonable effort to contact the voter and provide notice to the voter with a timeframe and manner in which the voter may cure his or her signature."

Under Kentucky law, "Voters have until the close of polls on Election Day to cure a signature."

Louisiana
  • Your ballot will be rejected if your signature does not match the signature the state has on file for you.
  • Your ballot will also be rejected if it's missing affidavit information, your signature, or a witness signature.
  • You must make corrections in person at your Local Election Office by 4:30 pm on the day BEFORE Election Day for your vote to count.

Louisiana law says the registrar of voters will “promptly notify the voter of the ballot envelope flap deficiency and of the opportunity to cure the deficiency.” Upon receipt of a ballot envelope with a missing voter or witness signature or defective affidavit, the parish registrar must immediately mail a written notice informing the voter of their ability to cure the deficiency. If there is a telephone number or email address in the voter's registration record, the registrar must also attempt to contact the voter by one of those means.

Louisiana law says, "Voters are required to appear in person at their registrar of voters office during normal business hours until 4:30 p.m. the day before the election to cure the ballot envelope flap deficiency."

Maine
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by close of polls on Election Day for your vote to count.

Maine law says, "The clerk must notify the voter within one business day of receiving the absentee ballot, unless the absentee ballot is received on election day or less than 24 hours before election day, in which case the clerk shall make a good faith effort to notify the voter as quickly as possible."

Maine law allows voters to cure any ballot deficiencies up until the absentee ballot receipt deadline, which is the close of polls on election day. For certain deficiencies, such as a mismatched signature, Maine law instructs election officials to accept but challenge a deficient ballot that is not cured by the deadline.

Maryland
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign the oath on the envelope.
  • The state might contact you by email or phone to make corrections, but don't count on it.
  • You must make corrections by 10:00 am on the 10th day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Maryland law requires election officials to notify a voter of a curable ballot deficiency "as soon as practicable but not later than 3 business days after" the deficiency is identified, and "to provide the voter an opportunity to correct the omission and have the ballot counted."

Maryland law says that voters must "correct the omission before 10 a.m. on the day that is 10 days after Election Day."

Massachusetts
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • If your ballot is rejected before Election Day, the state may send you a new ballot.
  • Your new ballot must be postmarked or returned in person by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.

Massachusetts law says, "Prior to Election Day, the voter is notified and, if sufficient time allows, sent a new ballot if an affidavit signature is absent or the ballot is rejected for other reasons."

Massachusetts law says a "voter can submit a new absentee ballot" if there is enough time before Election Day. Unfortunately, there is no way to fix issues with your ballot after Election Day.

Michigan
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the one on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the third day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Michigan laws says, "The clerk must notify the elector by telephone, email, or text message, if available."

Michigan law says, "The elector must be permitted an opportunity to cure the deficiency as provided under section 766a until 5 p.m. on the third day following the election."

Minnesota
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • If your ballot is rejected at least 5 days before Election Day, the state might send you a new ballot. Your new ballot must be postmarked or returned in person by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
  • If your ballot is rejected within 5 days of Election Day, you cannot correct your ballot. Your vote simply will not be counted.

Minnesota law says, "If a ballot is rejected more than five days before Election Day a replacement ballot is mailed; if rejected within five days, election officials must contact the voter via telephone or email to provide options for voting a replacement ballot."

Minnesota law says a "voter can request a replacement absentee ballot" before Election Day. Unfortunately, there is no way to fix issues with your ballot after Election Day.

Mississippi
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the state records.
  • You must make corrections by 12:00 pm on the 10th day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Mississippi law says, "When a voter’s absentee ballot is rejected for the signatures not corresponding on the absentee application and absentee ballot envelope, the registrar must notify the voter within one (1) business day of the election that the voter’s absentee ballot has been tentatively rejected."

Mississippi law says voters have until noon on the 10th calendar day post-election to correct the deficiency.

Missouri
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it.
  • Your ballot will also be rejected if it's not notarized.
Montana
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the one the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.

Montana law says, "Election administrators shall notify voters of missing or mismatched signatures."

Montana law says, “Voters have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to cure their ballot."

Nebraska
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Nevada
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You have 6 days after Election Day to fix the issues in order for your vote to count.

Nevada law says, "Local election officials shall notify voters of missing or mismatched signatures."

Nevada law says, "The voter must provide a signature or a confirmation, as applicable, not later than 5 p.m. on the sixth day following the election."

New Hampshire
  • Your ballot will be rejected if your signature is missing or if your signature does not match the one on your absentee ballot application.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
New Jersey
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it, or if your signature does not match the one the state has on file.
  • Your local election office will let you know if there are issues.
  • You have until the 11th day after Election Day to correct issues with your ballot.

If a county board of election decides to reject a ballot due to a missing or mismatched signature on the ballot envelope, the board must send the voter a cure letter by mail or email and attempt to contact the voter by telephone within 24 hours of the decision. The cure letter must contain a cure form instructing the vote how to resolve the issue.

New Jersey law allows voters to cure a deficiency up to, "not later than 48 hours prior to the final certification of the results of the election other than the general election, or in the case of a general election within 11 days after the general election."

New Mexico
  • Your ballot will be rejected if it's missing your signature or the last 4 digits of your social security number.
  • You have 10 days to fix issues with your ballot in order for it to be counted.

New Mexico law says, "The county clerk shall immediately attempt to contact a voter whose ballot qualification was rejected to provide notice to the voter of the rejection, opportunity to satisfy the reason for the rejection, and the process for curing reason for the rejection."

New Mexico has established a cure process for missing signatures, and missing or non-matching social security numbers, on mail ballots. Voters have until the Friday following Election Day to correct errors.

New York
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • Your local election office will let you know if there are issues.
  • You must make corrections within 7 business days after receiving your cure notice for your vote to count.

New York law says, "Within one day of determining a ballot insufficient, election officials shall send to the voter’s address a notice explaining the reason for such rejection and the procedure to cure the rejection. The board shall also contact the voter by email or telephone if such information is available."

New York law says, "Voters have until the seventh business day after the board’s mailing or the day before the election, whichever is later, to correct a signature."

North Carolina
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • Your ballot will be rejected if it doesn't include a witness signature or the required ID.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 9th day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Voters whose ballots are deemed deficient for any reason must be notified by writing within one business day of the identification of the deficiency. If the voter has a phone number or an email address on file and the defect is curable, officials then the county board shall additionally notify the voter by phone or email.

North Carolina law states that “The cure certification or photo ID cure documentation must be received by the county board of elections by 5 p.m. the day before county canvass.”

North Dakota
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by the 13th day after Election Day for your vote to count.

North Dakota law says, "the election official shall notify the absent voter the signatures do not appear to match." The voter will receive notice of the issue with instructions for how to cure the issue within thirteen days after Election Day."

North Dakota law says that a verification curing the mismatched signature "must be completed by the absent voter before close of the meeting of the canvassing board occurring thirteen days after the election."

Ohio
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 4th day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Ohio law says, "the election officials shall mail a written notice to the voter, informing the voter of the nature of the defect."

Ohio law says, "Voters have until the fourth day after the election to resolve the issue."

Oklahoma
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • If your ballot is rejected, you will NOT be able to fix the issues. Your ballot simply will not be counted.
Oregon
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by the 21st day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Oregon law says, "County clerks notify voters by mail of any signature absence or discrepancy."

Oregon law says, "Voters must provide sufficient information to cure the deficiency not later than the 21st calendar day after the date of the election for their ballot to count."

Pennsylvania
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it.
  • Your voted ballot will also be rejected if it's not inside the "secrecy envelope." If you submit a "naked ballot," your vote will be rejected.
  • Most issues with mail ballot envelopes must be corrected by 8 p.m. on Election Day for the ballot to be counted.
  • If you did not include a Pennsylvania driver's license number, the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number, or a copy of an unexpired photo ID when you applied for a mail ballot, or if that information could not be verified, you have until the 6th day after the election to make corrections.

While there is no state requirement that county boards notify voters of deficiencies with their mail ballot envelopes, counties may choose to do so.

Pennsylvania does not have a statewide cure process. While there is no state requirement that county boards notify voters of deficiencies with their mail ballot envelopes, counties may choose to do so.

Rhode Island
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by 4:00 pm on the 7th day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Rhode Island law says, "Local board of canvassers is responsible for notifying voters by mail, email or phone."

Rhode Island law says, "Voters have until 4:00 pm seven days after Election Day to correct a deficiency.”

South Carolina
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it, or if you forget to have your ballot signed by a witness.
South Dakota
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
Tennessee
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
Texas
  • Your mail ballot will be rejected if your ballot carrier envelope contains missing or mismatched signatures, missing or mismatched ID numbers, a missing statement of residence, or missing witness information.
  • You have until the 6th day after Election Day to correct issues with your ballot in person at the clerk's office.

Texas law says, "No later than the second business day after an early voting ballot board discovers a defect, the board shall determine if it’s possible for the voter to correct the defect and return the envelope before the polls close on Election Day. If the board determines it’s possible, the board shall return the envelope to the voter by mail. If the board determines that it would not be possible for the voter to correct the defect and return the ballot by mail, the board may notify the voter by telephone or email that the voter may request to have the voter’s application to vote by mail canceled or to come to the clerk’s office in person to correct the defect."

Texas law says, "Voters have until the close of polls on Election Day to return a cure by mail. Voters have until no later than the sixth day after Election Day to correct a defect in person at the clerk’s office."

Utah
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • The state might contact you by mail, phone, text, or e-mail to let you know that there are issues.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm three days before the day on which the official canvass begins.

Utah law says, "Election officials notify voters of ballot rejection within two business days if rejected before Election Day; seven days if rejected on Election Day; and seven days if rejected between Election Day and the end of official canvass."

Utah law allows voters to submit an affidavit curing a ballot deficiency by, "no later than 5 p.m. three days before the day on which the official canvass begins.”

Vermont
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You'll have until the close of polls on Election Day to cure a defective ballot.

Vermont law says, "Not later than the next business day after deeming a ballot defective, the clerk shall transmit a notice to the voter informing the voter that the ballot was deemed defective and rejected, stating the reason it was deemed defective, and providing the voter with information to correct the error. If the defective ballot is identified within five business days before the election, the clerk is not required to mail a notice; instead, the clerk shall make a reasonable effort to provide notice to the voter as soon as possible using any contact information in the voter checklist."

Vermont law says, "Voters have until the close of polls on Election Day to cure a defective ballot."

Virginia
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • The state might let you know in writing or by e-mail if there are issues with your ballot.
  • You must make corrections by noon on the 3rd day after Election Day for your vote to count.

Within three days of finding a ballot incomplete or incorrect, the registrar shall notify the voter in writing or by email of the error or failure and shall provide information on how to correct the issue.

Under Virginia law, upon being notified of an issue, a voter "shall be entitled to make such necessary corrections before noon on the third day after the election."

Washington
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 20th day after Election Day in order for your vote to be counted.

Washington law says, "Voters notified by mail of rejected ballots due to missing/mismatching signature statements."

Washington law says, "Voters must sign and return a curing statement before election certification (Twenty days after Election Day). The voter may go to the auditor's office, or sign a copy of the ballot declaration (missing signature) or the declaration and registration oath (non-matching signature) and return it to the auditor's office. Three days before certification, county auditors must attempt to contact by phone call, text, or email if possible any voters with outstanding ballots to be cured."

West Virginia
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
  • The ballot curing deadline varies by county. Please contact your Local Election Office to find out the deadline in your county.
Wisconsin
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it, if your signature does not match the one the state has on file for you, or if your ballot is not signed by a witness.
  • You must fix these issues by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Wyoming
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.