To avoid the crowds at the polls on Election Day, I submitted an online request for an absentee ballot – something I’ve never done before.
I was supposed to receive one by e-mail, but it hasn’t shown up and it should have arrived by now. Either something went wrong at their end or I mistyped something on the form.
If the absentee ballot never shows up, do you think it’s OK for me to go to my polling place on Election Day and see if they’ll let me vote? Or could I get in trouble for trying to vote twice? What do you think?
You definitely need to check with your local elections supervisor. I just completed my vote by mail ballot. It clearly states in the instructions that should I decide to vote at the polls I have to take my vote by mail ballot and envelope with me.
Hmmmm. Around here you can request an absentee ballot by email…but the ballot is then mailed to you via USPS. It is not sent via email…ever. Absentee ballots mailed must also be counted…thus the hard copy. No emails. Are you sure that is how you were supposed to receive it?
Agree…just check with your registrar. They will tell you what to do.
In my state, you can request the ballot to be sent to you as an email attachment. Then you print it out, fill it out, and mail it. At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen.
Around here there is an online application for an absentee ballot. I know this because when DD was in the Peace Corps, she used it. But her ballot was mailed to her snail mail. And she had to return it either in person (not a happening) or via snail mail.
The registrar keeps track of the number of absentee ballots sent out. And to whom.
Boards of elections keep records of who has requested and been sent an absentee/vote by mail ballot. If you have been sent an absentee ballot but you still show up at your polling place to vote, you will most probably be given a provisional ballot, so they can check later whether you sent in the absentee ballot too. A provisional ballot is a pain in the neck for the counters to count, and sometimes is disqualified for some reason, so it would be preferable to straighten the situation out with the election board before Election Day.
Every state has different laws. You actually should probably start with the secretary of state’s office for your state. See what it says on the website about absentee ballots and timing of the mailing/emailing. They may have a central number to call, or they may tell you to call your county elections office. I would do this, not just show up at the polling place.
And as an aside, at least you have a polling place. Here in WA where I just moved, we all vote by mail. There is no location to go vote as a community on voting day. I think it is sad – it is a bit of a community event where I lived before. Even though I knew that the majority of my neighbors did not support the same candidates I did, it was satisfying to stand in line together and leave with our “I Voted!” stickers. I miss that.
I live in WA too, and it seemed odd at first when they changed to all vote by mail, but I understand that it’s increased the numbers of those who actually vote. It was certainly more convenient for me when kiddo was younger. And it turns out that BIL, who lives in Canada, did just vote absentee by email, so WA is one of those states that allows it.
OP, I would start with your county elections office, if you have one, or as suggested above, contact your state office. But there may be a more local option, which would be where your vote would be counted.
@intparent and @sseamom me three re: WA state. I have friends online from other states that didn’t believe me at first when I told them we vote strictly by mail!
I waited in an hours-long line in 2012. That was a community event, all right, and I didn’t like it. I have no intention of doing that again. I think the states that have mail-in, Internet or even early voting are progressive and much more citizen-friendly.
You should be able to find the info on your county’s supervisor of election’s office. We’ve been doing ours by mail for years. Unless they’ve recently changed it, where I live even if you send in your absentee ballot if you decided to change your mind you can go in on Election Day and vote in person, nullifying the absentee ballot vote.
Here in WA where I just moved, we all vote by mail. There is no location to go vote as a community on voting day. I think it is sad – it is a bit of a community event where I lived before. Even though I knew that the majority of my neighbors did not support the same candidates I did, it was satisfying to stand in line together and leave with our “I Voted!” stickers. I miss that.