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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 it's missing a witness or notary signature.
  • 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 one 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 6th day 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."

California law says, "on or before the next business day after a determination that a voter’s signature does not compare, but not later than eight days prior to the certification of the election, the elections official shall send by first-class mail notice to the voter of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to the certification of the election. The notice shall include a return envelope, with postage paid, for the voter to return a signature verification statement."

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."

Colorado law says, "A confirmation form accompanying the letter must be returned to the county clerk and recorder within eight days after Election Day to count."

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 DC has on record for you.
  • You'll have until the 7th 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 DC Board of Elections that specifies the problem with the ballot. The voter will have up to seven days to resolve the issue (cure the ballot).

The DC Board of Elections will accept information to cure a ballot up to seven days after the election. For the 2022 General Election, information to cure a ballot must be received at the DC Board of Elections no later than November 15, 2022 by the close of business (4:45 pm).

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."

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.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 3rd day after Election Day in order for your vote to count.

Georgia law says, "If ballot is rejected, the voter is promptly notified of rejection."

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 to fix the issues with your ballot in order for it to be counted.

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

Illinois law says, "Voters have until 14 days after election to resolve issue with county election authority."

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 8 days 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 your 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.
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 with your Local Elections Office by 4:30 pm on the day BEFORE Election Day for your vote to count.
Maine
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the on that the state has on file for you.
  • You must make corrections by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Maryland
  • Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it.
  • The state might contact you by email or phone to make corrections, but don't count on it.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 10th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
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, "Voter can submit a new absentee ballot." Unfortunately, there is no way to fix issues with your ballot once Election Day has passed.

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 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
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. You 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, "Voter can request a replacement absentee ballot." Unfortunately, there is no way to fix issues with your ballot after Election Day has passed.

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.
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, "Voters have until the seventh day after the election to resolve the issue."

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 ninth day after Election Day to correct issues with your ballot.

If election officials opt to reject a mail-in ballot on the basis of a missing or discrepant signature, officials must notify the voter of that fact within 24 hours and send along a cure form, by which the voter can remedy the defect that caused officials to reject the ballot.

A voter has until 5:00 p.m. on the ninth day following an election to return the cure form to election officials.

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 17 days to fix issues with your ballot in order for it to be counted.
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 if your witness did not clearly print their name and address.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 9th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
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 10:00 am on the 6th day after Election Day for your vote to count.

North Dakota law states, "Election officials must first attempt to contact voters with potential mismatched signatures by phone and, if unable to speak with the voter, by mail. The voter will receive notice of the issue with instructions for how to cure the issue within six days after Election Day."

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.

If you provide your email address or phone number, the county board of elections will call or email you to notify you of any steps that you must take to remedy errors on your ballot.

Ohio law says, "Voters have until the fourth day after the election to resolve 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 5:00 pm on the 14th 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 complete and return the certified statement accompanying the notice by the 14th day after 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.
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 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.
  • You must make corrections by 7:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
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.
  • You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
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.
  • You must make corrections by the close of polls on Election Day for your vote to count.
Texas
  • Your mail ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the ID number provided on your ballot carrier envelope does not match the one that you provided on your registration application.
  • Your ballot will also be rejected if the signature on the outside envelope does not match the signature on your voter registration form.
  • 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 on the 13th day after Election Day.

Utah law says, "Election officials notify voters of ballot rejection in one to 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 canvas."

Utah law says, "Voters must sign a new affidavit statement provided by the clerk’s office and return by 5 p.m. the day before the official canvass (7-14 days after Election Day)."

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 contact you by writing or e-mail to let you know that 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, "Voter must sign and return a curing statement before election certification (21 days after Election Day). Three days before certification, county auditors must attempt to contact by phone 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.