Voter Protection Wins Elections

Volunteer for ballot curing

by Steve Schear

With only eight days (!) until the election, one option for helping Democrats win has growing importance – helping voters fix rejected ballots.

Ballot curing provides a great way to participate in this drive to the finish line. It’s ideal for those who are done with postcards and letters, who don’t feel comfortable canvassing, or who want a powerful and immediate impact. Ballot curing turns a rejected or incomplete ballot into a vote that counts. When you do this work, usually from home, you’ll be helping committed voters who have already tried to vote. And they — and democracy itself — will thank you.

“Having a vote rejected can be demoralizing,” said Kathleen Borschow of VoPro Pros. “So contacting someone not only protects their vote to ensure it’s fairly counted, but also helps motivate them.”

Rules about voting vary by state, Borschow said. They can be onerous, and can even change from year-to-year, so it’s not surprising that some voters’ ballots get flagged and need to be corrected. (In 2020, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, more than a half million ballots were rejected.)

The most common problems are with photo ID requirements, voter addresses, or signatures either missing or in the wrong place. Voter protection groups like VoPro Pros get lists of rejected ballots from state or county elections officials. Volunteers, after receiving training, call those voters and explain how to fix problems. Other volunteers help by researching voters’ current contact information, so that they can be reached and alerted about what they need to do to have their votes count.

“I consider it a form of deep canvassing,” Borschow said. “It’s another way to make a connection with a voter and show them that Democrats care about them and how much their vote matters.”

The Difference Between Winning or Losing

A good ballot curing program staffed by enough volunteers can make the difference between winning and losing elections. According to Kim Allen, a leader in Power the Vote, ballot curing was the difference in the 2020 presidential election in both Georgia and Wisconsin. It can also make the difference in congressional races, state legislative races, and especially in local races, where margins of victory are sometimes just a few hundred votes, or even fewer

It’s Easy to Volunteer to Cure Ballots

Early voting has started in all swing states, so ballot curing is already underway. It will continue after Election Day, with different deadlines for ballot counting in different states. Several groups are seeking volunteers for various “voter protection activities.” These include: VoPro Pros, an all volunteer organization, various state Democratic parties, and the Harris-Walz campaign. You can sign up to be trained and deployed by VoPro Pros here. You can sign up to volunteer with a variety of state Democratic parties here.

Most ballot-curing is done by phone, so a volunteer can be anywhere and help make votes count. One of the great things about ballot curing is that volunteers know they are making a direct contribution to increasing Democratic vote totals in battleground states, districts, and local elections. Together they will help us win the White House, the Senate, and all down ballot races, too.

Spread the word!