Chapter 8 — Provisional Ballot

1. Explaining the Provisional Ballot.

If the election judge has not done so fully, a poll watcher should accompany the voter out of the polling room and take the time to explain to the voter steps it will take to have the ballot counted.

Once it is decided that the voter must vote a provisional ballot, the poll watcher is watching for four things.

• First, that in addition to filling out the provisional ballot envelope and affidavit, that the election judge includes the reason for voting a provisional ballot AND what information the voter provided to support their case to vote.
• Second, that the completed ballot is not placed in the ballot box/tabulator, but is returned to the election judge.
• Third, that the ballot is sealed in the provisional ballot envelope.
• Fourth, that the voter is given a copy of the affidavit and instructed on how to provide additional information to the election authority, if needed.