Provisional ballot
Definition
A provisional ballot is a backup ballot cast when a voter's eligibility can't be confirmed on the spot, for example their name isn't on the roll or they lack required ID. It's set aside and only counted after election officials verify eligibility.1
Why it matters
Provisional ballots exist so an eligible voter isn't turned away outright, but they also shift the burden onto the voter to prove eligibility after the fact, often against paperwork deadlines. States vary widely in how easily provisional ballots actually get counted, so the same rule can protect voters in one state and quietly discard them in another.
Seen in the wild
In the 2024 general election, 1,290,670 provisional ballots were cast nationally, about 0.9% of all ballots, with Maryland casting the highest share at 4.8%, per federal Election Assistance Commission data.2 The most common reason was the voter's name not appearing on the eligible-voter list at their precinct.