I made a mistake on my mail ballot. Can I get a new one?

Call your county first

If you think you made a mistake, call your county before you mail the ballot or try to fix it. The state's sample instruction sheet for mail ballots tells voters to contact their county if they lose their ballot or make a mistake.

Each county decides whether it replaces ballots and how. State guidance says that when a county gives you a new ballot, it must cancel the first one. That way only one ballot can ever count for you.

Here's one example. Bucks County has a form you can use to cancel your ballot and get a new one. It lists a damaged ballot and a mistake among the reasons to use it. If you bring the form to a county election office in person, you get the new ballot right away. Your county's steps may be different.

• Read the instruction sheet that came with your ballot. If it doesn't say how to fix a mistake, ask your county before you mark over anything.
• Ask whether they can mail you a new ballot or whether you should pick one up in person.
• Ask what to do with the old ballot.
• Don't wait. A new ballot still has to reach your county by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. A postmark does not count.
• Not sure who to call? Call us at (267) 209-3397, and we'll help you find your county's number. We are a private group, not the county, so we can't send you a ballot.

Or turn it in at your polling place

If you still have your ballot and haven't sent it back, you can vote in person instead. Bring the ballot, even with the mistake on it. Also bring the return envelope that came with it. That's the larger envelope with your county's address on it and the spot where you sign and date.

Poll workers will cancel your mail ballot and envelope. You sign a form, and then you vote a regular ballot like everyone else. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3.

If you don't bring both the ballot and the return envelope, you can still vote, but only with a provisional ballot. That's a ballot the county holds and counts only after it checks that you are eligible and did not also vote by mail.

• You don't need the small yellow inner envelope, called the secrecy envelope, to do this.
• Look up your polling place before you go. Our Where to Vote page can help.

Lost or damaged ballot, or a missing envelope

Did you lose your ballot? Call your county. They may cancel it and send you a new one. Or you can vote at your polling place on Election Day with a provisional ballot.

Did your ballot get torn or wet? Call your county about a new one. If you still have the ballot and its return envelope, you can also turn them both in at your polling place and vote a regular ballot.

If your county gives you a new ballot and you later find the old one, don't mail the old one. It has been canceled and won't be counted.

Your ballot goes into a small yellow secrecy envelope, and that goes into the larger return envelope. The state says you must use both envelopes, or your vote won't count.

• Lost the secrecy envelope? Don't mail your ballot without it, and don't use a different envelope. Call your county.
• Wrote on the secrecy envelope? The state says writing or marks on it can keep your ballot from being counted. Call your county.
• Lost the return envelope? You can't use a plain envelope instead. Call your county.

Already sent it back?

Once you've returned your ballot, you can't vote a regular ballot at your polling place. You also can't trade your ballot in because you changed your mind.

Problems with a returned ballot are different. Say you forgot to sign the envelope, or left out the secrecy envelope. State guidance says the county should record that problem, so it shows up when you track your ballot. If you gave your county an email address, you may also get an email. Some counties let you fix the problem or send you a new ballot. Not every county does, so call yours right away.

If your county tells you your returned ballot was rejected, or you think it will be, you can still vote a provisional ballot at your polling place on Election Day. The county decides after the election whether it can be counted.

• Check your ballot's status with the state's ballot tracker. Our Mail Ballot page has a link to it.
• Always sign and date the return envelope. If it isn't signed, your ballot won't be counted.
• Keep your county's phone number handy in case they call or write to you about your ballot.

Related

• Request a mail ballot
• Where to vote on Election Day
• The 7-step mail ballot checklist
• Get help from a real person
• More common questions