Provisional ballots are used to ensure that all voters are able to cast a ballot even if voter eligibility is uncertain at the time they vote. Voters can mark a provisional ballot, and election workers set it aside until eligibility is verified at a later time. 

You are eligible to vote a provisional ballot if: 

• You claim to be an eligible voter, but your name does not appear on the list of registered voters, and your registration cannot be determined by the voter registrar 

• You have applied for a ballot by mail, but have not returned it or canceled it 

• You vote during extended polling hours ordered by a state or federal court 

• You do not present any acceptable form of identification (read below) 

If you claim to be registered, but your name is not on the list of registered voters, the presiding election judge will call the voter registrar to determine if you are registered. If registration can be confirmed and you can show identification, you may vote a regular ballot or be directed to the correct precinct if you are in the wrong precinct.  

If you vote a provisional ballot, be sure to bring your acceptable form of ID to your local voter registrar’s office within six calendar days after the election so that your provisional ballot is counted. Provisional voters will receive a notice in the mail by the 10th day after the election letting them know if their provisional ballots were counted and if they were not counted, the reasons why.