Here’s What To Do If You Don’t Receive Your Mail Ballot

So, it’s election season, and you’re ready to vote. You requested your mail-in ballot, checked the mailbox a dozen times, but you still haven’t found your ballot in the mail. What next? With Election Day getting closer, it can be easy to assume you’ve missed your chance to vote. But if your ballot hasn’t arrived yet, don’t panic. 

For college students, voting by mail can make participating in an election more convenient, especially if you are attending school away from home, working on Election Day, or registered at a different address than where you currently live. But when a ballot doesn’t arrive when you thought it would, figuring out what to do next can be confusing, especially if this is your first time voting by mail. 

The good news? A missing mail ballot doesn’t have to mean you’ve missed your chance to vote.

If your ballot hasn’t arrived, there are several ways to find out what happened, and, depending on where you live, alternative ways to cast your vote. You may have several options for making sure you can still cast your ballot before the deadline. So, whether your ballot was delayed, lost in the mail, sent to the wrong address, here’s what you should know about your options before Election Day. 

How To Check your ballot’s status

Before assuming your ballot is completely lost, check to see where it is first. Many states and local election offices have online tools that allow voters to check the status of their mail or absentee ballot. 

Start by visiting your state or local election office’s website for ballot-tracking options. You can also use the Vote.Org ballot tracking page to find links and phone numbers based on your state. 

Another great resource is USA.gov’s state and local election office tool. This can help you track down your exact point of contact to find your ballot. 

It’s also worth double-checking your voter registration information, especially if you’ve changed dorms or moved off campus recently. Your name and address should be up to date with the election office, but if it’s not, students who have moved for school should double-check which address their ballot was sent to.

What To Do If you think your ballot was lost in the mail 

If your ballot was marked as mailed, but it never made it to your mailbox, it may have been lost or delayed in transit. Luckily, you don’t have to wait and hope it eventually arrives. 

Contact your local election office as soon as possible and explain that you requested a mail ballot but never received it. Election officials can help tell you if you are eligible for a replacement ballot or explain what other options are available to you. The rules for replacing a missing ballot vary by state and locality, so it’s important to follow the instructions from the office that issued your ballot.

If you believe the ballot was lost somewhere in the postal system, you can also report missing mail to USPS. However, voters should contact their local election office for issues specifically related to voting by mail, so don’t rely on a USPS missing-mail search as your only solution. The most important thing to remember is don’t wait until the last minute to start your lost-mail search, or to contact your election office for other options. 

How To Find Out If You’re Still able to vote in person

If your ballot never arrives, you may still have the option to vote in person. The exact process depends on where you’re registered, so check with your state or local election office before heading to the polls. 

If you got the mail-in ballot, but it was delivered too late to fill out and get back in time, bring it with you to the polls. Depending on your state’s rules, election officials may be able to cancel the mail ballot and issue you an in-person ballot. Some may allow you to fill out your absentee ballot and drop it off on election day in specific locations. 

What To Do if your ballot arrives after you’ve already voted in-person

If you voted in person because your mail ballot never arrived, do not vote again if that mail ballot eventually shows up. Once you have cast your ballot in person, your vote has been cast. 

If you’re unsure what to do with your mail ballot, contact your local election authority and explain that you already voted in person. Election rules vary by state, so election officials can give you the appropriate instructions for your specific situation.

Common mistakes To Watch Out For, & how to get help

Sometimes, a missing mail-in ballot may stem from an issue with the original request. Before submitting your application, double-check that you’re registered to vote and eligible to vote by mail in your state. Make sure the name and address on your voter registration match what is on your ballot request. Pay extra attention if you’re a college student with a different permanent address or have gone through a recent move. 

You’ll also want to make sure you submit your ballot request before your state’s deadline. If your election office provides a way to confirm that your application was received or approved, check its status before Election Day. This can give you time to address an error or contact election officials if something looks wrong.

If you’re confused about the rules and procedures behind voting (because they are very confusing), the best place to start is your state and local election offices. You can also check out the Election Protection Hotline, a nonpartisan nonprofit that seeks to answer voter questions and make sure all eligible voters can cast a ballot. Vote.org also has great resources to check out. 

Bottom line: A missing ballot doesn’t have to mean a missed opportunity to vote, it just means you have some action to take. So, if something goes wrong, don’t wait until Election Day to try to fix it. Check your options and make a new plan to make sure your vote is counted.

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