What to know on Election Day - Registered to vote but not on the rolls??

If you registered to vote before your state's deadline, and go to the polls on Election Day only to learn that you do not appear on the rolls, do not just walk away, do not worry about the line behind you - you are still entitled to cast your vote! How the election official handles this will vary by state law - we'll get to that - but if you are registered to vote and you are at the correct polling station (determined by your address), you may not be turned away!

In recent general elections, chaos at the polls has become the norm. Both major political parties have mounted aggressive voter "challenging" campaigns. The purpose is to intimidate and discourage voters. Know your rights, and prepare for problems before heading off to vote.

Did you receive any election materials in the mail? Bring that with you. Did you get a voter registration card? Bring it. Bring a current utility bill sent to your address. Some, but not all, states require photo ID, so be sure to have that with you. Double-check your polling place - it will be printed somewhere on your sample ballot. Be sure to arrive at the polls well before closing.

Now, we've gotten to our correct polling station in plenty of time, waited patiently in line, given the clerk our names ... but we're not on the list. What now? You have the right to vote by provisional or questioned ballot. A provisional ballot is counted upon the verification of that voter's eligibility.

(In this post, I'm only addressing the early primary states, but I will get to all of them in plenty of time.)

January 8 - District of Columbia
An individual whose eligibility to vote in the election cannot be determined at the polls on election day...shall vote by special ballot. The outside of the special ballot envelope shall contain a statement warning the voter of the criminal penalties for making a false representation as to his or her qualifications for voting and an affirmation signed by the voter attesting the following: (c) That he or she resides in the precinct where voting at the address provided.

January 14 - Iowa
The voter shall be provided a provisional ballot, which will be counted if cast in the correct precinct.

January 19 - Nevada
A provisional ballot must not be counted if the county or city clerk determines that the person who cast the provisional ballot cast the wrong ballot for the address at which he resides. (Counted if cast in correct precinct)

January 22 - New Hampshire
Not applicable. New Hampshire allows for election day registration, so is not required to provide provisional ballots.

January 22 - Wyoming
Wyoming is an election-day registration state, provisional ballots only offered if voter is required to show ID and cannot provide ID. Counted if cast in the correct precinct.

January 29 - Florida
Counted if cast in the correct precinct. If it is determined that the person voting the provisional ballot was not registered or entitled to vote at the precinct where the person cast a vote in the election, the provisional ballot shall not be counted and the ballot shall remain in the envelope containing the Provisional Ballot Voter's Certificate and Affirmation and the envelope shall be marked "Rejected as Illegal."

Yes, I know I skipped the South Carolina Democratic primary, but this is a Ron Paul Spambot's blog and I'm only worried about the Republicans!

-- Spambot #4750