Voting by Mail: A Guide to Send in Your Ballot

graphic by lucinda strol

This year’s election could be the most important one in our lifetime, according to The Hill. The decision voters make at the polls in November will impact the future of America. Your vote is your voice. Ensuring that your ballot is counted and received is imperative to ensuring your voice is heard. This can be very difficult for college students filling out absentee ballots. According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, approximately 1% of absentee ballots sent in by voters were rejected. This year in the primary elections, the Washington Post reported that 534,000 mail-in ballots were rejected across 23 states, some of which were battleground states. In order to prevent your absentee ballot from getting rejected, it is important to keep some things in mind before putting it in a mailbox. 

DO Fill Out Your Ballot as Soon as Possible

Make sure to check your mailbox every day for your mail-in ballot to arrive. Once you’ve received it, open that bad boy up and start voting! Fill it out as soon as you lay your eyes on it. That way, your ballot will be finished and ready to be counted plenty of time before election day. 

DON’T Wait Until the Last Minute

 Filling out your absentee ballot is not something you want to procrastinate. It could be perfectly filled out, but if it's postmarked late, it doesn’t count. Note the dates by which your state specifies your ballot must be postmarked and received by the elections office, here are some recommended sources. If it’s already past the date or you don’t think you can mail it by the date required, it’s okay! All hope isn’t lost. Try to return your ballot in-person to your local elections office. Returning ballots in person may vary by state, so make sure it’s allowed. But, avoid all of this hassle by mailing in your ballot ON time!

DO Fill Out Your Ballot in Blue or Black Pen 

 While election laws state that all ballots can be marked “only with pen or pencil,” election officials and commissioners say that you should use blue or black ink. If you use a pencil or any other color pen, voting scanning machines will have a difficult time reading it causing the ballot to be pulled and counted by hand. Also, if there are any other marks outside the voting box, your ballot might be rejected. 

DON’T Rush Through and Ignore Instructions

Take your time and read all of the instructions very carefully. Make sure to completely fill in every bubble, vote for the right number of candidates, and read each sentence with diligence. Some ballots have very specific instructions, like submitting a copy of your photo ID with the ballot. Look for special instructions and complete everything exactly the way your ballot asks. If you are feeling unsure, have someone you trust to check to see if you did everything correctly. 

DO Make Sure the Address and Postage Is Correct 

Make sure to use the right envelope to return your ballot, it is designed for voter privacy and protection. Double-check that the address on the envelope is correct and that your ballot is being sent to the right location and office of elections. Also, check to see if the postage is correct. There are 17 states that provide return postage for mail-in ballots. Otherwise, it is up to the voter to pay for postage when returning the ballot through the mail. 

DON’T Sign Your Name Incorrectly 

Many times voters do not sign their names in the same way it is signed on their voter registration. If your signature doesn’t match the one on your registration, your ballot will be rejected, election officials say. If you registered to vote at the DMV, your signature is likely the same as the one on your driver’s license. Be careful and make sure to sign your name correctly. 

DO Mail Your Ballot at a Secure Voting Location 

To truly ensure that your ballot is safely delivered to the office of elections, mail it in a secure ballot dropbox or directly at the post office. These mail-in locations are emptied more frequently by USPS than regular mailboxes and are specific ballot-receiving locations. If you are at all concerned about your ballot being stolen or mishandled, it is recommended to deliver it to one of these secure locations.

DON’T Take a Picture of Your Ballot

While states don’t ban posting ballot photos on social media, many have specific laws that prohibit voters from showing marked ballots to other people according to Business Insider. “Ballot Selfies” might be illegal in your state. If the Office of Elections finds evidence on social media of you sharing your marked ballot, your ballot might be rejected. While everyone is excited to get their vote in and tell the world that they voted, it is much safer to avoid posting pictures of your ballots. However, if you would really like to, find out which states it legal to post images of marked ballots here. 

DO Track Your Vote

Finally, after carefully completing and securely mailing your ballot, track to make sure it safely arrived at your local Office of Elections or County Clerk Office. You can track your vote on Ballot Trax or through your own state’s Election Office and registration center. This can help put your mind at ease knowing your ballot has been received and will be counted on Election Day! 

Besides the fact that this is an extremely pivotal election year for the United States, voting by mail in the middle of a pandemic can be extremely stressful and overwhelming. The good news is that the New York Times reported that more than 64 million ballots have already been cast in the early voting period of the 2020 election. This is the highest early voter turnout out of any election so far, and more ballots keep flooding in each and every day. If you have yet to fill out your absentee ballot and you’re reading this, do it RIGHT NOW. Use your voice and vote for the future you want to see in America.