Made a mistake with a mail-in ballot? You have another option to vote in-person in PA

Pennsylvania residents registered to vote, but whose eligibility at a polling place is questioned have a right to vote by provisional ballot, which records a vote until the county board of elections determines its validity.

While provisional ballots are a tiny portion of votes cast at Bucks County’s 304 polling places, their numbers have exploded since 2020, the first year where mail-in voting was available in Pennsylvania.

Last November more than 3,100 Bucks County voters cast provisional ballots, roughly 10 per polling place, compared to roughly 500 in the 2016 general election, according to county data. The increase has focused new attention on these ballots especially in tight races.

Here is everything you need to know if you want to cast a provisional ballot in Pennsylvania.

Why you may be issued a provisional ballot at the polls in PA?

• Your name was not in the poll book or supplemental poll book because you are a new voter, at the wrong precinct or did not report a change in address to the county election office.

• You lost your ballot or one of the envelopes or they are damaged.

• You are required to show identification but do not have valid ID.

• Your eligibility was challenged by an election official.

• You were issued, but did not successfully vote an absentee or mail‐in ballot, and you do not surrender your ballot at the polling place to be spoiled. (If you do turn in an incomplete absentee or mail in ballot you can vote on the machine.)

• You returned a completed absentee or mail‐in ballot that was rejected and you believe you are eligible to vote.

• There is a special court order with respect to your registration status or one related to extending hours of voting.

• You requested a new replacement mail-in ballot, but then found and used the previously issued mail-in ballot/envelope.

• For primary elections, you believe that you are registered in a political party, but your voter record indicates otherwise.

What should I do at the polling place if I want to cast a provisional ballot?

When you check in, tell the poll worker you want to use a provisional ballot. You don't have to give a reason. If the judge of elections isn't sure what to do, tell them to contact the board of elections.

If you want to vote using a provisional ballot, follow these instructions to avoid it being invalidated.

• Before a provisional ballot is issued you will be asked to fill out the the first three sections (voter information, voter affidavit for a provisional ballot, and current address) on the affidavit envelope. This information must be completed by the voter in front of the judge of elections and minority inspector. Once it is completed, you will receive a provisional ballot.

• Mark your provisional ballot in an accessible and private area of the polling place. Fill out all the information carefully. Make sure you were given a secrecy envelope and an affidavit envelope.

• Place the completed ballot in the secrecy envelope and seal it. Place the secrecy envelope inside the outer affidavit envelope and seal that envelope. Make sure you sign "Section 4" of the affidavit envelope.

• Fill out the "Section 4" of the affidavit envelope, again, in front of the judge of elections and minority inspector.

• Double check the affidavit envelope to make sure both the judge of election and minority inspector signed it.

• The voter will be given a provisional ballot identification receipt. Keep this receipt if you want to find out if your vote was validated and counted.

More: Here's what you need to know to vote in Bucks County for Tuesday's PA primary

How are provisional ballots counted in PA?

The Pennsylvania Election Code requires that provisional ballots be canvassed within seven days of the election at a public meeting that the board has publicized. The county board of elections, which is often a county board of commissioners (unless they are up for re-election) is responsible for deciding if a provisional vote is valid and can be counted.

The county board of election staff must evaluate each provisional ballot before the meeting and gather information that would permit the board of elections to determine whether the person was eligible to vote.

Can I find out if my provisional ballot was counted?

Yes. You can find out this information starting seven days after the election. If your provisional ballot was not counted, you can find out why by either searching for your provisional ballot online or you can call 1-877-VOTEPA. You must provide your provisional ballot identification number, which is one the receipt you receive at the polling place.

More: Given low turnout, are primary elections still the best way to engage voters?

What if I want to vote on a machine and I still have my unused absentee or write-in ballot and envelopes?

If you bring the unused ballot and envelopes with you to the polling place you can vote on the machine like other in-person voters.

When you arrive at the polling place, make sure you tell the poll worker you were issued a mail-in ballot and want to turn it in and vote in person. Your name should appear in the poll book that you requested a mail-in ballot. You will be asked to sign a form acknowledging you are surrendering your ballot to vote on the machine.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Provisional ballots in PA give voters options at the polls in primary, general election