Provisional Voting

 

Some of the most common circumstances when a provisional ballot is issued:

• You are not found as registered and cannot provide required ID or witness.
• You are challenged by a poll watcher in the voting site, and you cannot provide required ID or a witness.
• Voting time is extended by court order.
• Voting for the first time after you registered by mail, did not provide required ID with your registration, and cannot provide ID when voting.
• You are marked as having voted during early voting.
• You requested and received a ballot by mail but cannot surrender it to the election judges.
• You’re wishing to register with your current address but cannot provide required ID or a witness.
• You insist on voting at incorrect Election Day voting site.

In the voting site, you and the election judge will complete a Provisional Voter Affidavit Envelope. The election judge will give you a ballot and the affidavit envelope. After marking your ballot, you seal it in the provisional affidavit envelope and return it to the election judge. Your ballot is NOT placed in the ballot bin.

All provisional ballot envelopes are returned to the County Clerk’s office AFTER Election Day. You have seven days to provide the Clerk’s office with any additional identification or documents to prove your name and/or address. We work with Illinois State Board of Elections, the Secretary of State’s office, and any new papers provided by you to determine your registration status. If your status can be proven, your ballot is counted.  If your name and/or address cannot be validated, your provisional ballot is not cast.

Track the status of your provisional ballot by logging into LakeVoterPower.info and referencing the ballot access number on your white Provisional Voter Ballot Receipt.