Asked to vote a provisional ballot in IL? What that means & how to ensure it is counted
Most registered voters in Illinois can cast their ballots without issue, but in certain situations, a resident must vote using a provisional ballot.
A provisional ballot can be issued for a number of reasons, including when a voter’s registration is in question and has been substantially challenged by an election official, poll watcher or legal voter; a court order extends voting hours and the person voted in the extended period; the person’s name appears on a list of early voters but they say they did not vote early, among other circumstances.
After an Illinois resident submits their provisional ballot, their local election authority will verify the registration information to see whether the votes on the ballot can be counted.
To avoid needing to vote with a provisional ballot Tuesday, Nov. 5, you can check your voter registration ahead of time and correct any issues at an early voting site. While getting ready to vote, you may also want to check out the Belleville News-Democrat’s 2024 Voter Guide to research your options.
Here’s what to know about voting with a provisional ballot in Illinois.
Voting with a provisional ballot in Illinois
Here’s how to vote with a provisional ballot in Illinois, from the East St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners website:
Fill out and sign the legal affidavit form. You will receive a copy of the affidavit.
An election judge will note on the affidavit the reason or reasons you were issued a provisional ballot. The judge will place the original affidavit and any documentation you provide in an envelope with the clear plastic window.
After voting your ballot, place the provisional ballot inside the security envelope, seal it and return it to the election judge.
If you make a mistake, ask an election judge for a new ballot. You should not seal the spoiled ballot in the envelope, the board of election commissioners reports.
If you have additional information or documentation to complete your registration, you can bring it to the election judges on Election Day or bring it to the election authority’s office before the close of business the Thursday following Election Day, in this case Thursday, Nov. 7.
Voting with a provisional ballot is very rare in St. Clair County, county clerk Thomas Holbrook said in a recent interview with the BND.
When local election authorities receive a provisional ballot, they check to see if the voter’s registration discrepancy can be corrected so they can count it.
“We don’t want anyone leaving the polls that has a right to vote not voting,” Holbrook said.
To check whether your vote was counted, you can enter your ballot ID on the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
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