Understand the Process!

In the United States of America, individual states determine their own election laws, which can include when and how people vote and important deadlines in the process. Within those states, sometimes local jurisdictions are able to establish their own unique laws and practices as well. There are over 10,000 election jurisdictions in the United States. While certain standards and regulations can be seen at the national level, election administration can vary widely from state to state – and even jurisdiction to jurisdiction. 

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the ways that people can vote in your state so that you can choose the option that works best for you. We recommend seeking this information from trusted and nonpartisan sources, such as directly from your state or local election official.

Each state has either a chief election official or a statewide board of elections in charge of elections for the whole state. The name for this official or board varies from state to state, but most often, there is a Secretary of State or a State Election Director in charge of elections. These positions are designed to be nonpartisan to ensure fair and impartial election processes. You can find out who runs elections at the state level in your state here. In many places, these offices are elected and directly accountable to voters every few years. 

Local election officials, who also serve in a nonpartisan capacity, are tasked with preparing ballots, educating voters, managing in-person polling locations, certifying results, and more.  You can see who your local election official(s) are here.

Find key, essential voter information for how to vote in the United States in your preferred language, from the menu options below:

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In U.S. elections, ballots are counted through a meticulous and nonpartisan process designed to ensure accuracy, transparency, and integrity. Before the election, officials from both major parties program and test voting equipment, employing security measures like tamper-evident seals and restricted access.

On Election Day, bipartisan teams of poll workers secure and monitor the equipment, ensuring no ballots are cast before polls open and tracking voter activity. 

After polls close, these bipartisan teams verify and seal ballots and storage devices, which are then transported to a central location for counting. Votes from machines are uploaded to a central system, where officials verify and audit the results before reporting unofficial outcomes on election night. Official results can sometimes take weeks to process, though, as nonpartisan officials work diligently to verify and count all votes cast. 

Learn more from the U.S. Election Administration Commission about the voting system and security measures in place. 

Mail ballots follow a similar yet distinct process to in-person ballots, emphasizing nonpartisan oversight. They are received, verified, and prepared for scanning before Election Day. Once verified, they are scanned and counted alongside in-person votes, with strict chain-of-custody procedures and bipartisan oversight. Both types of ballots are subject to post-election audits to confirm the accuracy of the count. These steps, guided by standards from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, ensure the integrity of the election results through a transparent and nonpartisan approach.

After an election, there is a period of time called the certification period. During this time, election officials count every ballot, check for duplicates, verify voter status, and give voters a chance to correct mistakes on their ballot. Results aren’t verified until this period is complete. Every state has both Republican and Democratic election observers, who are subject to the same rules and have equal access to the vote count process. People can even watch how votes are counted to make sure that everything is fair.

In addition, cybersecurity measures are increasingly critical in ensuring the integrity of the election process. States implement various cybersecurity protocols to protect voting systems from cyber threats, such as hacking and tampering. These measures include robust firewalls, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring of systems for suspicious activity. In addition, 48 states carry out a post-election audit to make sure that the equipment and processes worked well during the vote counting.

The timeline for election results varies by state due to differences in laws and procedures. On Election Night, unofficial results are typically reported, but final results can take several days to weeks. Factors influencing the timeline include the processing and counting of mail-in and provisional ballots, which often continue after Election Day. States have specific deadlines for certifying election results, generally ranging from a week to a month post-election. For the most accurate timeline, check with your state’s election office.

A provisional ballot is one that is counted after review from an election official, instead of being counted on the spot. They can also be referred to as “challenge ballots” or “affidavit ballots.” Provisional ballots are there to make sure you aren’t excluded from the voting process if your eligibility to vote is deemed uncertain. Here are some reasons you might need to request a provisional ballot:

• You don’t have an acceptable form of required ID. 
• You forgot to bring your required ID.
• You don’t show up on the registration list.
• You showed up to the wrong polling location.

If you end up casting a provisional ballot, make sure you follow up with your local election office, because in some states, the burden falls on you to make sure your provisional ballot counts like a normal ballot. After you cast your ballot, election officials will work to verify your eligibility as a voter. If you are confirmed to be an eligible voter, your provisional ballot will be counted. If you are not found to be eligible, your vote will not be counted in the final tally.

To prevent using a provisional ballot, check to make sure you are registered to vote at your current address, and make sure you have the right ID to vote in your state! 

In the event of disputes or recounts, states have established procedures to ensure a fair resolution. Recounts can be automatically triggered by a close margin, requested by a candidate, or mandated by law. The process involves re-tabulating votes under strict supervision, often with bipartisan observers present. Disputes over election results may also be addressed through legal challenges, with courts making final determinations. Each state has specific guidelines detailing how recounts and disputes are managed to maintain election integrity.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by election information, especially when some of it is misleading or even completely false. If something triggers a strong emotional reaction, mixes fact with opinion, or makes you question what you already know, it’s a good idea to double-check before you share or act on it.

Quick tips to check information about elections:

• Slow down. Read the whole post or article before sharing.
• Check your feelings. Strong emotions? Double-check the facts.
• Look at the language. ALL CAPS, name-calling, and exclamation points are red flags.
• Check the source. Who posted this? Are they qualified to know?
• Cross-check. Use a trusted fact-checking source.
• Ask yourself: Does this seem designed to make me angry or scared?

Before you share: Pause. Sharing a false claim, even to warn people about it, helps it spread. If you haven’t verified it, don’t pass it on.

Watch for AI-generated content. Images, audio, and video can be faked convincingly. If a clip seems shocking or perfectly timed to make you react, slow down and look for the same news from multiple trusted sources before sharing. 

When in doubt, check with official sources like your local election office or your Secretary of State’s website.

Remember to pause before sharing any story you encounter to verify its authenticity. Especially when a headline seems sensational, clickbait, or emotionally charged – you should think critically and question if the information is simply trying to get a rise out of you to continue spreading. If so, that could be a major red flag that the story is misrepresented.

Make sure to check the source of the material and verify that it is impartial and credible while also making claims based on evidence and/or named sources. You should also consider any pre-existing bias with a source and how that can affect their reporting of the situation. Sites such as Allsides and Ad Fontes can help you learn more about the news you follow.  

Election officials and organizations at the local, state and national levels are working hard to make sure that voters have access to information about how elections are administered. You can check out frequently asked questions and their responses from the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED). Another government agency called the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has a great resource where they explain common election rumors and verified responses.

Organizations like FactCheck.org, PolitiFact, and Snopes are dedicated to debunking false information and verifying the accuracy of claims made during election campaigns. 

Educational resources on media literacy, such as those provided by the News Literacy Project and MediaWise, can help individuals develop critical thinking skills to discern reliable information from misinformation.

Becoming a poll worker is one of the best ways to support democracy and a great way to make some extra money. Poll workers (also called election judges or temporary election workers, depending on your state) check people in at the polling place, hand out ballots, and make sure voting is a positive and empowering experience for everyone. When there aren’t enough poll workers, voters can face barriers to casting their ballot, including longer lines and fewer polling locations. Most states pay poll workers for their service and welcome people as young as 16 to serve. You can also add your poll worker experience to your resume! Find your local poll worker application through our partners at Power the Polls.

Volunteer with Election Protection – Help ensure voting goes smoothly for voters across the country. There are plenty of ways to get involved. You can monitor polling places for voter suppression efforts or you can watch social media for misinformation and disinformation. You can also connect with voters to help them learn their rights or navigate the voting process and cast their ballot securely and safely. Learn more from our nonpartisan partners at Election Protection. 

Navigating conversations about trust in our elections can be complex, especially given the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation. However, there are resources available to help you engage in constructive discussions and promote understanding within your community:

• One of the most effective ways to promote understanding and trust in election systems within your community is by sharing this page with your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. Research has shown that people are more likely to trust information when it comes from someone they know and trust. By sharing credible and informative resources like this page, you can help empower others to engage in informed discussions and make evidence-based decisions about election-related issues. Whether it’s through social media, email, or in-person conversations, spreading awareness about the resources available can amplify their impact and contribute to a more knowledgeable and engaged community.
• You can also volunteer with a local or national nonprofit (such as the League of Women Voters) to access educational materials and resources on election systems, voting rights, and election integrity. These organizations often host workshops, webinars, and community events aimed at informing the public about the electoral process.
• Host an event in your community! You don’t have to just celebrate during National Voter Education Week. Voter education can happen any time ahead of the election. Organize a panel discussion with local election officials or host a nonpartisan discussion about election systems at your local community center, library, or school. 

Every year, election administrators and workers across the nation work tirelessly so Americans have the freedom to elect our leaders and representatives. Election Hero Day is a national day of recognition held each year the day before Election Day. On Election Hero Day, nonprofits, business leaders, brands, public officials, and more celebrate the tremendous contributions election officials, their staff, and poll workers are making to ensure a safe, secure voting experience for all.