Election Day Troubleshooting: What to Do if Your Absentee Ballot Never Arrived

At last, another Election Day is upon us. Over 42 million absentee ballots have been cast already. You can track yours here. 

But what if yours wasn't one of them? What if you requested an absentee or mail-in ballot and it never arrived? Does that mean you're out of luck and can't vote this year?

No. If your absentee ballot never arrived or you misplaced it, you have options.

Check if you can get an absentee ballot from your local election office

In some places, you can still pick up an absentee ballot from your local election office and drop it off in a ballot dropbox or at your local election office. Find your local election office's contact information here. 

Vote in person

You can also vote in person. If you go with this option, know that most states will require you to complete a standard affidavit or other documentation confirming that you never received your ballot before you can vote in-person.

In some states — such as New Jersey, Alabama, Texas and California — you'll need to complete a provisional ballot. Your ballot will be counted after it's verified that you didn't already vote. 

Click here to see each state's process for a missing absentee ballot.  

Missing ballot procedures in battleground states

These are the options for battleground state voters whose mail-in ballots are missing on a state-by-state basis.

Arizona

Vote in person at your polling place. The specifics of a missing ballot vary county by county, so ask your local county clerk. Find your local county clerk's contact information here. 

Georgia

Vote in person. You'll need to sign an affidavit at your polling place confirming that you never received an absentee ballot. Once you've done this, even if an absentee ballot from you is received by the clerk later on, the absentee ballot won't be counted. Remember to bring photo ID.

Michigan

Vote in person. You'll need to sign an affidavit at your polling place confirming that you never received an absentee ballot. Once you've done this, even if an absentee ballot from you is received by the clerk later on, the absentee ballot won't be counted.

Pennsylvania

Vote in person using a provisional ballot. You'll need to sign an affidavit at your polling place confirming that you never received an absentee ballot. Once you've done this, even if an absentee ballot from you is received by the clerk later on, the absentee ballot won't be counted.

Wisconsin

Vote in person at your polling place and tell a poll worker that you didn't receive your absentee ballot. Remember to bring photo ID.

Sound off: are you a voter whose absentee or mail-in ballot didn't arrive in time? What's your contingency voting plan?

—Lorelei Yang & Jamie Epstein