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Did my vote count? See which states offer ballot tracking

Did my vote count? See which states offer ballot tracking
Posted on | Posted on angela

Millions of Americans are heading to the polls today as Election Day is finally here. But after people cast their votes either in person or by mail, many are wondering how they can make sure their vote actually counts.

As with many other electoral processes across the country, the answer to this question may be more complicated than first thought.

The rules vary depending on where you live and also depending on how you vote. Because elections are administered by each of the 50 states, a patchwork of rules apply across the country, sometimes varying by county.

For the most part, people who vote in person can be confident that their votes will count when they see and fill out their ballot at a polling place. However, there are sometimes concerns when postal votes are not counted for the election.

According to an Election Assistance Commission survey, over 98% of absentee ballots were counted in 2020, with only 0.8% of votes rejected. With that in mind, and with only a few hours left until polls close, here's how to track the status of your ballot.

Alabama

The status of absentee ballots can be checked online at the Secretary of State's website.

Alaska

Absentee ballots can also be tracked online at www.myvoterinformation.alaska.gov.

Arizona

In the West, voters can track the status of their absentee and provisional ballots by visiting my.arizona.vote. For the state's largest county, Maricopa, voters can sign up for text updates on their mail-in ballot.

Arkansas

The Arkansas election website allows tracking of ballots.

California

California voters can check the status of absentee ballots online, with the option of text or email notification when the information is updated.

Colorado

Status updates and notifications are available to track mail-in ballots.

Connecticut

Voters can check here whether and when their postal ballot has been received.

Delaware

Delaware has a search service for absentee and provisional ballots.

District of Columbia

Voters in the county have two tracking options: one for their absentee ballot status and another for special ballots.

Florida

Tracking mail-in ballots is possible in Florida.

Georgia

Absentee and provisional ballots can be tracked on the Peach State's online voting portal.

Hawaii

In Hawaii, ballotstatus.hawaii.gov serves as a place where residents can track their mail-in ballots.

Idaho

People can check the status of their mail-in ballots using the state's voter records tool.

Illinois

Some counties, like Cook, which includes Chicagoland, have their own drop-in centers for suburban and Chicago city residents. The state itself has its own tracker for provisional ballots.

Indiana

Indiana's My Voter Portal serves as the state's ballot tracker.

Iowa

Mail-in ballot tracking is available for voters in the state. Preliminary ballot tracking can be verified by contacting the local county auditor.

Kansas

The state offers its own tracker for mail-in ballots.

Kentucky

Kentucky also offers its own tracker for mail-in ballots.

Louisiana

Information about tracking mail-in ballots is available online.

Maine

Mail-in ballots can be tracked using the statewide tool.

Maryland

The status of voters' absentee or provisional ballots can be tracked online.

Massachusetts

Voters can use this website to check whether their mail-in ballot will be accepted. A provisional ballot can be tracked after Election Day by calling 1-800-462-VOTE.

Michigan

The status of mail-in ballots can be checked online, while provisional ballots can be tracked by contacting your city or town clerk's office.

Minnesota

The status of the postal vote can be tracked online.

Mississippi

The state allows voters to check the status of their absentee and affidavit ballots online.

Missouri

The state does not offer statewide tracking, but the city of St. Louis and Calhoun County offer their own tracking devices.

Montana

The status of absentee voting can be checked at app.mt.gov/voterinfo.

Nebraska

The state offers its own voter information tool to track the status of mail-in ballots.

Nevada

The state has its own Ballottrax tracking website. Some other states on this list also have text or email alerts available to track the status of your mail-in ballot.

New Hampshire

The Granite State has a statewide tool to track the status of its ballot.

New Jersey

The status of ballots can be tracked using the state's online tool.

New Mexico

Voters have the option to track mail-in ballots.

new York

Postal ballots can be tracked online.

North Carolina

There are two systems available to voters, one for absentee voting and one for provisional ballots.

North Dakota

Mail-in ballots can be tracked online.

Ohio

Statewide tracking is available for mail-in ballots.

Oklahoma

Postal ballots can be tracked online.

Oregon

Because the state sends a ballot to every registered voter, people can track their votes online.

Pennsylvania

Tracking of mail-in ballots is offered online. Preliminary ballot tracking is available seven days after Election Day.

Rhode Island

The state offers online tracking at vote.sos.ri.gov.

South Carolina

Voters can only track whether their ballot has been received by the state, but cannot see whether it was accepted.

South Dakota

Just like in South Carolina, voters can see if their mail-in ballot was received but not accepted.

Tennessee

Mail-in ballots can be tracked online.

Texas

The Texas Secretary of State offers online ballot tracking.

Utah

Voters can check the status of their mail-in ballot and provisional ballot online.

Vermont

The status of the postal vote can be tracked online.

Virginia

Tracking mail-in ballots can be done at Elections.virginia.gov.

Washington

The state offers its own voter information portal to track the status of their ballot.

West Virginia

Tracking of absentee and provisional ballots is available to voters online.

Wisconsin

Mail-in ballots in Wisconsin can be tracked online.

Wyoming

The state does not offer online ballot tracking to voters, except for military and overseas voters.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a featured news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

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