Turned away from voting

What you can say

I would like to cast a provisional ballot.

Federal law gives you the right to a provisional ballot if a poll worker says you cannot vote a regular ballot. A provisional ballot is set aside and counted later, after election officials check whether you were eligible. This protects your vote even if there is a paperwork problem at the polls.

Call this number

Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

This is a free national hotline staffed by trained volunteers, including lawyers, on Election Day and during early voting. They can help you in real time at the polling place. Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA. Asian languages: 1-888-API-VOTE. Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US.

The law you are citing

Fifteenth Amendment (1870):

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Nineteenth Amendment (1920):

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964):

The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election... shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971):

The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

These four amendments together mean: states cannot block you from voting because of your race, your sex, your inability to pay a fee, or your age (if you are 18 or older).

If your name is not on the list

• Ask the poll worker to check again. Names are sometimes misspelled or filed under a maiden name or middle name.
• Ask if you are at the right polling place. In some states, you must vote at your assigned location.
• If you are at the wrong location, ask where your correct one is, and go there if you have time.
• If you cannot resolve it, say: "I would like to cast a provisional ballot." Federal law requires the poll worker to give you one.
• Ask how to check whether your provisional ballot was counted. Most states have a way to check online after the election.

If you do not have the ID they are asking for

• ID requirements vary by state. Some states require photo ID; some require any ID; some do not require ID at all.
• If you do not have the right ID, say: "I would like to cast a provisional ballot."
• In some states, you can return within a few days with proper ID and your ballot will then count. Ask the poll worker about your state's rules.

If you are told you are not registered

• Some states have same-day registration. Ask: "Does this state allow same-day registration?"
• If yes, ask what you need to register on the spot. This often requires proof of address.
• If no, you can still ask for a provisional ballot. In some cases it will count; in others it will not, but it creates a record of your attempt.

If someone tries to stop you from voting

• Voter intimidation is illegal under federal law.
• Call the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
• Note the time, the location, and what the person said or did.
• You can also call your state Attorney General's office and the U.S. Department of Justice Voting Rights Hotline at 1-800-253-3931.

Before Election Day

You can avoid most problems by checking your registration ahead of time. Search "check voter registration" plus your state. Most states let you check online in under a minute, and many let you re-register or update your address online if something is wrong.