Pause before casting or returning the ballot. The right fix depends on where you are voting, whether the ballot is in person or by mail, and whether it has already been cast or returned. If voting in person, tell a poll worker and ask for help or a replacement. If voting by mail, contact the county election office promptly before trying to correct or send the ballot.
If you are voting in person
Do not cast a ballot that shows the wrong selection if you can still ask for help. Tell a poll worker what happened and follow the local procedure; the available fix depends on the voting system and jurisdiction.
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For example, Delaware voters using the ExpressVote XL review printed selections before casting. If a selection is wrong, they should tell an election officer, who can void the ballot so the voter can start again. This instruction applies to that Delaware system, not to every polling place. Delaware Department of Elections: Election Security and Audits
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Check the ballot’s instructions and contact the county election office responsible for it. Ask whether a replacement is available, what to do with the incorrectly marked ballot, how the old ballot should be returned or surrendered, and what deadline applies. Do not assume you can erase, cross out, or cover a mark: local instructions differ.
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- Hawaii tells voters to contact their County Elections Division to request a replacement ballot and says, “Do not use whiteout.” Its replacement-ballot page also lists election-specific information, including November 3, 2026, as the 2026 General Election Day and receipt by the County Elections Division by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day; those details apply to Hawaii’s stated election, not as a general deadline. Hawaii Office of Elections: Replacement Ballot
- Oregon directs voters with a damaged, mistaken, spilled-on, or lost ballot to contact their county elections office for a replacement. Oregon Secretary of State: Ballot Help
- Delaware absentee voters with an incorrectly marked or spoiled ballot are told to contact the Department of Elections office in their county before returning it. Delaware Department of Elections: Election Security and Audits
- Arizona voters with a lost or damaged ballot-by-mail can request a replacement by mail or in person. Arizona says a mail request must be made no later than 11 days before Election Day and that the county cancels the prior ballot when a replacement is requested. These are Arizona-specific instructions and deadline. Arizona Secretary of State: Ballot Processing
- California’s state guidance says a registered voter who has not received a ballot or whose original was lost or destroyed may contact the county elections official for a replacement. It does not establish a universal procedure for every marking mistake. California Secretary of State: Frequently Asked Questions
There is no single national replacement-ballot process or deadline. Use the election office responsible for your ballot, not a correction method found for another state or county.
If you already mailed, dropped off, or cast the ballot
Do not assume that you can change the selections or submit another ballot. Oregon says, “You cannot change your vote once you’ve mailed or dropped off your ballot.” For other jurisdictions, contact the responsible election office and ask whether the ballot has been received and whether any local remedy exists. Oregon Secretary of State: Ballot Help
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If the mistake is on a signature or return envelope
An envelope or signature problem is different from marking the wrong candidate. If election officials send an official notice that a signature is missing or does not match, follow the notice’s cure instructions and deadline. Do not rely on another county’s deadline or process.
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For example, Weber County, Utah, describes a local signature-cure process and says a ballot will not be counted if the voter does not address the issue. Its instructions and deadline apply to Weber County. Weber County Elections Office: Cure Letter
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What if you left a contest blank?
A blank contest is not necessarily a ballot error. Oregon says voters do not have to vote in every contest for their other votes to count. Check your own ballot instructions or ask your local election office if you are unsure. Oregon Secretary of State: Ballot Help
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why you should follow your county’s marking instructions
Correction methods can conflict across jurisdictions. Hawaii warns voters not to use whiteout, while San Bernardino County, California, says its voters may make a notation correcting a vote and should not initial or sign the correction. The San Bernardino instruction is local; it is not a safe assumption for ballots issued elsewhere. San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters: What do I do if I make a mistake on my ballot?
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