What are the rules for provisional ballots?
In North Dakota, provisional ballots are used to allow individuals the chance to cast a ballot even if their eligibility to vote is unclear. To cast a provisional ballot, the voter must appear in person at their polling place on Election Day or during early voting period and ask for a provisional ballot. When a voter expresses interest in casting a provisional ballot, the precinct election official will ask the voter to complete an affidavit stating that they are eligible to vote. The voter must provide their name, identification number, and address. This will allow the county auditor to verify the voter’s eligibility. The voter must then cast the provisional ballot, which is different from a regular ballot in that it is not counted unless the county auditor can verify that the voter was eligible to vote. The county auditor will then have up to five days after the election to determine the validity of the ballot. Once the provisional ballot is accepted, it will be counted separately from other votes. If the provisional voter is found to be ineligible to vote, their ballot will not be counted. Provisional ballots have been put in place to ensure that no one is disenfranchised due to a lack of information or an administrative error. They are also used to verify the legitimization of a voter’s qualifications.
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