Provisional ballots draw scrutiny as US voters face eligibility checks
The gist
Federal law requires most states to offer provisional ballots when a poll worker questions a voter's eligibility.
These set-aside ballots are counted only after review, so results can lag.
How it unfolded
- Oct 26, 2026Houston Public Media reports nearly 2 million Texans are on the voter suspense list; voters with registration issues can ask for a provisional ballot, reviewed later by election judges who must notify the voter whether it was counted.
- Nov 2, 2026Election law professor Joshua Douglas tells USA TODAY that federal law requires the vast majority of states to offer provisional ballots when a poll worker questions eligibility, especially for administrative reasons.
- Nov 2, 2026Lake County Board of Elections officials in Indiana say DOJ monitors will conduct voluntary exit interviews outside polling places covering language barriers, disability access and provisional ballots.