You see a provisional ballot, voters see their ballot

One key feature of the Help America Vote Act is that it allows more possibly eligible people to vote.

If there’s a question about a person’s eligibility when they come into the polling place, they can vote on a provisional ballot. Many states use provisional ballots as a way to make sure that anyone who wants to vote gets to.

Poll workers ask the voter to fill out a form with basic information, record the reason for the provisional ballot, and store the voted ballot in a special envelope.

You see a provisional. Voters see a ballot.

We’ve worked on a few provisional ballot envelopes, forms, and notices in different states. One thing we’re pretty sure of is that election administrators see a an alternate process and maybe even some administrative hassle to managing provisional ballots. Voters see the provisional as their ballot.

The design of forms and notices can make a big difference in whether provisional ballots get counted in any given election. Do ballots get eliminated because information is missing from the form people fill out to get a provisional ballot?

The process can have lasting effects, both good and bad

Design can make the difference in whether voters drop out or show up at the next election. If the provisional ballot form is intimidating, or the notice doesn’t explain clearly what happened, why, and what the voter needs to do, it can feel to voters like they have been uninvited to exercise their franchise.

Combine processes, separate users, treat this envelope like other envelopes, help voters know what’s happening

In testing provisional ballot forms and notices, we’ve come away important lessons learned. Provisional ballot forms should:

  • Include a way to register or update voter registration. Avoid making voters fill out their information twice on two different forms.
  • Separate out who fills out which part: voter, poll worker, electoral board, office. Forms and envelopes that perform well have clearly marked sections for the different people who touch provisional ballots.
  • Make them look similar to other envelopes that hold ballots, like vote-by-mail or return envelopes (if you can). This makes voting provisionally a little less weird for voters. But it also can help your administrative processes.
  • Make sure voters know how to track their ballot to find out if it was counted. On the notice to voters, include instructions that help voters see where the ballot is as it goes through the process.
  • Make sure voters know what will happen with their registration status. Voters don’t always know that their voter registration is being updated through the provisional voting process. Help them know that if they’re voting provisionally because their name did not appear on the voter list or if there was a mistake in their voter information, that this process can help resolve that issue for next time.

See examples of forms and envelopes from Virginia and Ohio in our showcase.

 

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