What to do if your name is not on the voter registry: how provisional voting works in US Election 2024

Voting is underway in many states, and this month, various Republican states have untaken audits of their voter rolls.

The process is controversial, as some voters can be “stripped” without being informed, and when they show up to vote, they find they are unable to. The GOP says that conducting these audits is necessary to ensure that those ineligible, including non-citizens, cannot cast a ballot. However, voting rights advocates say that these actions often make the issue appear much larger than it is. In a recent audit conducted in Georgia, the Secretary of State found that twenty non-citizens had registered, and 8.2 million registrations were verified.

In all US states, voters can check their registration status to ensure they appear on the voter rolls.

By Googling “[Insert state] check voter registration,” click on the link associated with the election office in the state you hope to vote in. You may be asked to provide your name, address, social security number, driver’s license number, and birthday so the system can identify your registration information.

Which states have same-day voter registration?

If you find that you are not registered, you will want to submit your information quickly. The deadlines to register have already passed in some states, but a growing number allow voters to register up through election day.

In these states, voters can provide their voter registration information and cast a provisional ballot at a polling location. Then, election officials will ensure that the voter did not vote at another location and that the voter is eligible to vote. If so, the voter’s vote will be counted along with all of the other ballots.

If irregularities are found with your registration, you will likely be contacted, and if you do not respond, your ballot will be tossed out.