Beware of These Common Mistakes When Filling Out Your Ballot

Don't Be a Statistic!

Millions of votes are lost every year because of simple errors on ballots. Don't let yours be one of them!

So you've got your ballot in hand and you're ready to make your voice heard. But before you fill in those ovals, take a moment to read these common mistakes that people make on ballots. By avoiding these pitfalls, you can help ensure that your vote counts.

Not filling in the ovals completely. This is one of the most common mistakes that people make. Make sure to fill in the oval completely, using a dark pen. If the oval is not filled in completely, the machine may not be able to read your vote.

Overvoting. This occurs when you vote for more candidates than you are allowed to. For example, if you are voting for two candidates for a single office, you should only fill in one oval. If you fill in more than one oval, your vote may not count.

Undervoting. This occurs when you do not vote for all of the candidates that you are allowed to. For example, if you are voting for two candidates for a single office, you should fill in one oval for each candidate. If you only fill in one oval, your vote may not count.

Voting for the wrong candidate. This can happen if you are not careful when filling in the ovals. Make sure to read the names of the candidates carefully before you fill in the ovals.

Making stray marks on the ballot. Stray marks can confuse the machine and cause your vote to be invalidated. Avoid making any marks on the ballot other than filling in the ovals.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can help ensure that your vote counts. So take your time when filling out your ballot, and make sure to do it correctly.