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CEIR Explains: How a Ballot Becomes a Vote

October 2024 15 min read
Election Data & Research, Election Integrity & Security, Voter Convenience

This interactive shows how a registered voter obtains and casts a ballot in the 2024 general election. The map of the process below moves from the preparation of ballots to the counting of votes. Different colors show whether each step is by voters or by election administrators.

Click on each box for more information. Voters should visit vote.gov or ask their local election officials for dates, times, and voting locations in their area.

Download the flowchart

Research by Kyle Yoder, April Tan, and Kira Flemke, with assistance from Research Interns Jane Wright, Jordan Phan, and Carly Pyles

About this Series

The CEIR Explains series outlines the steps in running an election—taken by voters, election administrators, the news media, and others. Each explainer aims to provide better understanding of the processes of democracy.

Interested in learning more? Check out CEIR’s explainers on “How Elections Results Coverage Really Works” and “What Happens After We Vote“

How will you cast your vote?

As of the 2024 general election, 97% of all voting-age citizens live in a state that offers all voters a choice between one or more different options for casting their ballot, including early in-person, by mail, or on Election Day. In the remaining states, voters with an eligible reason similarly face a choice between casting their ballot absentee or on Election Day. And since 1986, eligible citizens serving in the military or living overseas can cast their vote through procedures enacted in the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

The key steps for each of these options are explained in detail below.

Ballots are prepared.

Before an election, election officials prepare ballots using data about candidates. State law decides what information must be included and the order of offices and candidates on the ballot. Ballot design can differ by jurisdiction and method of voting. Ballots are checked for accuracy and tested in vote-counting machines before being finalized. After being finalized, ballots are printed by a certified printing company or the election office.

Election officials typically begin preparing ballots months before Election Day to make sure they are accurate and well-designed.

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Voters decide how to vote.

In most places in the U.S., voters have a choice whether to cast their ballot by mail, early in person, or on Election Day. Voters living overseas or stationed abroad as part of military service can still cast a ballot through the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Each of these methods provides a secure and accessible way to vote, but the exact process for each differs slightly.

Click on each option in the process map to learn more.

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Mail Voting

Every state offers an option to vote by mail. Voters get a ballot in the mail and return it on or before Election Day. In some states, this is called an absentee ballot. This explainer uses the term “mail ballot” for any ballot sent through the U.S. Postal Service.

Some states automatically send mail ballots to all active registered voters, while others require voters to request mail ballots. Most states do not require voters who request a mail ballot to provide a reason for requesting one, but some states require a reason.

Voters should check vote.gov or ask their local election officials about mail voting dates and procedures in their area.

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In some states, voters apply for a mail ballot.

Voters can apply for a mail ballot in person or by mail. In some states, they can apply online. States require identifying information to ensure only eligible voters receive a mail ballot.

Twenty-eight states let all eligible voters request and receive a mail ballot. Fourteen states require voters to provide a valid reason in order to receive a mail ballot. Eight states and Washington, D.C., automatically send a mail ballot to all active registered voters for each general election without requiring an application.

Deadlines for submitting applications vary by state. Some states let voters request a mail ballot for multiple or all future elections when they submit their application. Voters should check vote.gov or ask local election officials about procedures for mail voting in their area.

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Mail ballots are issued.

Local election officials typically issue mail ballots through postal mail. Sometimes mail ballots can be picked up in person at a local election office. Timelines for election officials to issue mail ballots vary by state and local jurisdiction.

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Voters complete and return mail ballots.

After receiving their mail ballots, voters fill them out and return them to local election officials. Ballots can be returned either by mail or by hand-delivering them to an official drop-off location, such as the local election office, a polling place, or a secure drop box.

Most states require mail ballots to be returned by Election Day. Some accept mail ballots after Election Day if they are postmarked on or before Election Day. Voters should check vote.gov or ask local election officials about mail voting dates and locations in their area.

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Mail ballots are processed.

Before counting a mail ballot, election officials check the voter’s identity, usually by looking at information on an outer envelope. For identity verification, election officials match the voter’s signature or other information on the envelope to the information from voter registration records, as required by state law. Envelopes with missing or mismatched information may be set aside to be corrected by the voter (called “ballot curing;” see below) or rejected by election officials following state laws. Most states start processing envelopes before Election Day, but some wait until polls open on Election Day.

After each voter’s identity is verified, the envelope is opened and the ballot is removed to keep it secret. In some places, mail ballots may be placed into tabulators before Election Day to prepare for vote counting.

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If needed, voters cure mail ballots.

If a voter’s signature or other information is missing on the mail ballot envelope or does not match the signature or information on file, the voter’s eligibility may have to be confirmed another way. Most states contact voters if there is a problem with their mail ballot, and voters can verify their ballot. This verification process is called “ballot curing.”

Depending on their state, voters may have several options to cure their ballot. Options may include verifying the ballot in person, by mail, or electronically (e.g., by email, website portal, fax, or text). Each state that allows voters to cure ballots has its own process and timeline.

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Early In-Person Voting

Most voters can vote early in person in their state. In some states, early in-person voting is just like voting on Election Day. In other states, voting early in person involves applying for, receiving, and voting a mail or absentee ballot in a single trip to an election office or designated early voting location.

Voters should check vote.gov or ask their local election officials about early in-person voting dates and locations in their area.

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In some states, voters apply to vote early in-person.

In some states, early in-person voting is conducted using absentee or mail ballots. Voters in these states may apply in person for an absentee or mail ballot at a designated location. They may then complete their ballot and cast it in the same trip.

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Voters cast a ballot at an early in-person voting location.

To vote early in person, voters must visit a designated early in-person voting location, such as an election office or polling place. Many states use vote centers for early in-person voting. Vote centers allow voters to cast their ballot at any voting location in their jurisdiction.

During early in-person voting, voters must demonstrate their identity as they would if they were voting on Election Day. In some states, early in-person voters will cast their ballots using the same type of equipment that is used on Election Day. In other states, early in-person voters will cast their ballots as if they are completing and returning an absentee or mail ballot in person.

Voters should check vote.gov or ask their local election officials for early voting dates and locations in their area.

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If needed, voters cure provisional ballots.

During early in-person voting, an eligible voter may need to use a provisional ballot instead of a regular ballot if their identity or eligibility cannot be confirmed at the polls. This could be because their name is not on the registration list or they do not have the required ID. States may also offer provisional ballots for other reasons, such as if a voter is at the wrong voting location or their vote is challenged by poll watchers. Provisional ballots ensure that administrative errors do not keep eligible voters from voting.

When a provisional ballot is submitted, it is set aside in a marked secrecy envelope. It may not be counted until after election officials verify the voter’s identity and eligibility. As part of this verification, the voter may be asked to provide more information about their identity and eligibility to vote in a process called ‘ballot curing.’ Each state has its own process and timeline for curing provisional ballots.

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Election Day Voting

All eligible voters can vote in person on Election Day. For the 2024 general election, Election Day is November 5.

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Voters cast a ballot at an election-day voting location.

In every state, voters can vote on Election Day. Most states require voters to go to a polling location based on their address. Some places use vote centers, where voters can go to any of several locations in their area. States may also allow voters to vote at a local election office.

How voters cast their ballot depends on the equipment available. Most voters will cast a paper ballot. Some voters will fill out paper ballots by hand, while others will use a machine to record their votes and create a paper record of their votes. A small number of voters will use electronic devices to record votes.

Voters should check vote.gov or ask their local election officials about Election Day voting in their area.

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If needed, voters cure provisional ballots.

On Election Day, an eligible voter may need to use a provisional ballot instead of a regular ballot if their identity or eligibility cannot be confirmed at the polls. This could be because their name is not on the registration list or they do not have the required ID. States may also offer provisional ballots for other reasons, such as if a voter is at the wrong voting location or their vote is challenged by poll watchers. Provisional ballots ensure that administrative errors do not keep eligible voters from voting.

When a provisional ballot is submitted, it is set aside in a marked secrecy envelope. It may not be counted until after election officials verify the voter’s identity and eligibility. As part of this verification, the voter may be asked to provide more information about their identity and eligibility to vote in a process called ‘ballot curing.’ Each state has its own process and timeline for curing provisional ballots.

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Military and Overseas Citizens (UOCAVA)

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) was enacted by Congress in 1986 to require states to provide military and overseas citizens with ways to register and vote in all federal elections. It was updated and expanded by the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act in 2009. Throughout its history, it has protected the right to vote for overseas and absent members of the military, their families, and other U.S. citizens living overseas.

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UOCAVA voters request a ballot.

UOCAVA voters must request a special type of mail ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).

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UOCAVA ballots are issued.

Local election officials must send ballots for federal offices to UOCAVA voters who have requested them at least 45 days before each federal election. Local and statewide contests are also included on the ballot in many states.

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Voters complete and return UOCAVA ballots.

After receiving their ballot, UOCAVA voters fill it out and return it by mail. In some states, UOCAVA voters may be able to return their ballot by alternate secure means. This includes states that offer electronic return (sometimes called online or internet voting), which allow UOCAVA voters to return ballots by email, fax, or an online portal. These return methods vary by state.

In some states, the deadline to return UOCAVA ballots is the same as the deadline to return other types of mail ballots. Other states set a later deadline to receive UOCAVA ballots, so long as they are postmarked by Election Day.

If UOCAVA voters do not receive their ballot in time to vote in an election, they can submit a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) instead. The FWAB is an emergency ballot that UOCAVA voters can use to vote for federal offices and other contests allowed under state law.

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UOCAVA ballots are processed.

After receiving UOCAVA ballots, election officials process them like other mail ballots. First, election officials check the voter’s identity, usually by looking at information on an outer envelope. For identity verification, election officials match the voter’s signature or other information on the envelope to the information from voter registration records, as required by state law. Envelopes with missing or mismatched information may be set aside to be corrected by the voter (called “ballot curing;” see below) or rejected by election officials following state laws. Most states start processing envelopes before Election Day, but some wait until polls open on Election Day.

After each voter’s identity is verified, the envelope is opened and the ballot is removed to keep it secret. In some places, mail ballots may be placed into tabulators before Election Day to prepare for vote counting.

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If needed, voters cure UOCAVA ballots.

If a voter’s signature is missing on the UOCAVA ballot package or does not match the signature on file, the voter’s eligibility may have to be confirmed another way. Most states contact voters if there is a problem with their UOCAVA ballot signature, and voters can verify their eligibility another way. This process is called “ballot curing.”

Depending on their state, voters may have several options to cure their ballot. While UOCAVA voters may not be able to travel back to the U.S. to cure their ballots in person, other cure options are available and may include verifying the ballot by mail or electronically (e.g., by email, website portal, fax, or text). Each state that allows voters to cure ballots has its own process and timeline.

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Votes are counted.

After voters cast their ballots, election workers begin the process of counting votes to determine election results.

Ballots cast on Election Day are counted after the polls close. Some states allow local officials to begin counting early in-person and mail ballots before polls close, so long as they follow state rules to keep ballots and results secret until polls close. No matter when counting begins, results are not released until after the polls close.

Votes are typically counted at the local level, often by precinct. Election workers typically use machines called tabulators to securely and accurately count votes. To ensure an accurate count, tabulators are thoroughly tested before any counting begins. To ensure a secure count, tabulators are never connected to the internet. If a tabulator is unable to read a ballot for any reason, election officials follow state laws to make sure ballots are counted correctly.

Many states allow outside groups or individuals to observe the counting process. Observers may include members of the public, political parties, the media, or other groups.

Vote counting is a process that extends beyond Election Day. Counting may continue for days or even weeks after Election Day to ensure each ballot is securely and accurately counted. This includes mail ballots, military ballots, and provisional ballots. Official results are not known until all ballots are counted and the results certified.

Any results reported after the close of polls but before the certification of the results are unofficial. This includes all projections and calls by news outlets on election night.

Want to know how the media reports on these unofficial election results? See CEIR’s explainer on “How Does Election Coverage Really Work”

Want to know more about the official canvass and certification process? See CEIR’s explainer on “What Happens After We Vote”

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