There have been a number of questions about absentee ballots, especially about what happens if you make a mistake. So, we contacted the Board of Elections, and they laid it out for us. And, as the old saying goes, there’s good news and there’s bad news.
If there’s a problem with your signature
Under Kentucky law, if you vote absentee, your signature on the absentee ballot envelope has to match another copy of your signature (your “signature of record”) available to the election officials in your county.
If they cannot verify your signature (it doesn’t match), they will send you a letter (below) telling you they were unable to verify it, AND giving you a way to fix it. Here’s how.
- With the letter will be a Signature Affidavit Form (included in first PDF below). Follow the instructions to fill it out, and sign it.
- Attach a copy or photo of an acceptable form of identification. All the ones they accept are listed on the form.
- If you use a Kentucky driver’s license, you’re good to go. (Other forms of ID are okay too.) BUT, if you use an out-of-state license, you have to also complete and attach the Voter Affirmation Form (second PDF below).
- Return the form and the ID copy to your county clerk’s office by November 9. You may use mail, email, fax, or drop it off in-person.
That’s all there is to it. In the past, your ballot would have been discarded, but this year, you can “cure” the signature problem.
Letter and Form –> Absentee Ballot Signature Problem Letter and Signature Affidavit Form
Form –> Voter Affirmation Form
If there is another type of problem with your ballot
If there is some problem with your ballot OTHER than the signature not matching, you will get a different letter (below).
You can read the letter, but the bottom line is, there is no cure process for the problem(s) on your ballot, since it isn’t a signature problem.
What can you do, then? As the letter says, “you are still entitled to vote in person either during the early voting period spanning from October 13, 2020 through November 2, 2020, or on Election Day, November 3, 2020.”
Frankly, even though it’s a shame that your absentee ballot won’t count in this case, it’s great that you can still go vote in person. Again, in the past, your ballot would have been discarded and your vote just wouldn’t count.
Letter –> Absentee Ballot Other Problem Letter
Final thoughts
I said at the top that there was good news and bad news. I should have said good news and a-little-less-good news. The Secretary of State and the state Board of Elections have really gone out of their way to make voting easier this year, AND to make the absentee ballot process more likely to result in your vote being counted, either absentee or in person.
So, now it’s up to you! Your vote matters, especially this year. Go vote – and if you get one of these letters, do what it says so your vote will count!
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