Provisional ballot

A provisional ballot is a ballot a voter casts at the polls when there is a question about eligibility, for example because the voter's name is not on the registration list, the voter lacks required ID or the person is at the wrong polling place. It is set aside in a special envelope and counted only if election officials later confirm the person was eligible.

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires every state (except those with no voter registration or with same-day registration) to offer provisional ballots, as a safeguard so no one is turned away without a chance to vote. Officials then verify eligibility within a set time after the election, and the voter can usually check whether the ballot was counted. States differ on whether a ballot cast in the wrong precinct is counted in whole or part.

A large share of provisional ballots are counted, though rates vary widely by state. Supporters see them as a fail-safe that protects eligible voters from errors, while some election-integrity advocates stress the need for strict verification and that provisional ballots can slow the count and add to recount disputes. They are a key element of Voter ID laws and voter roll maintenance.