Breaking down Wayne County’s 492 provisional ballots

Elections are the cornerstone of democracy. They provide an opportunity for citizens to have their voices heard and to participate in selecting their leaders and the passage of issues.

One of the ways the Wayne County Board of Elections ensures fair elections is by employing a fail-safe mechanism called provisional balloting to ensure every vote counts, even if there is an initial question of a voter’s eligibility.

In the Nov. 7 general election, Wayne County Board of Elections Director Julie Leathers-Stahl reported 492 ballots were given provisional status.

“Provisional ballots cast on or before election day are sorted by precinct, and we make sure that all of the information is provided, like proper signatures,” Stahl said. “Then we look at each ballot individually.”

What are provisional ballots

“(Provisional ballots) are one way we maintain election integrity,” Stahl said. “If a person moves into the county and forgets to change their address, we make sure that the ballot was cast at the correct location. Then we contact the county they moved from to see if they were registered there and if they cast a ballot in that county.”

Provisional ballots are held temporarily when an individual’s eligibility to vote is in question for various reasons such as missing identification, discrepancies in registration records or even casting a vote outside their designated precinct. Instead of denying these individuals the opportunity to vote altogether, provisional ballots offer a temporary solution, allowing their votes to be counted provisionally until their eligibility is verified.

First, they ensure no eligible voters are kept from having the chance to participate in the polls. Secondly, provisional ballots are one of the many safeguards against potential voter fraud. By subjecting these ballots to a verification process, election authorities can meticulously examine each case and determine if the individual’s vote should be counted as valid.

A mountain of work

“Realize that we have less than five days to verify ballots,” said Bryon Bell, elections board deputy director. “If the address of a person is in question, we have to call or email the board in that county and verify they were registered. Keep in mind that boards of election from possibly all 88 counties are also calling us to verify ballots that they received.”

By addressing potential concerns after the election, provisional ballots help maintain the integrity and fairness of the electoral system.

“This mechanism also protects voter access to the ballot,” Bell said. “If provisional ballots did not exist and there was a question about your eligibility, you would not be able to vote, which is something we do not do. Instead of turning a voter away, they may cast a provisional ballot, allowing us to research it and ensure it is countable. There is also a cure period that allows the voter to fulfill the requirement they failed to meet. That information is given to the four-person bipartisan board of directors for a ruling.”

In addition to the 492 provisional ballots cast on Nov. 7, more than 300 absentee ballots were mailed out to voters, and to be counted, they must arrive back at the board office by Nov. 13.

The finalized tally must be completed by Nov. 27.

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.