🗳️ Did you vote? In many states, that’s public information, but you have to file a request or pay a fee to obtain it. A new website, VoteRef, allows anyone to look up your name, address, age, party affiliation and whether you voted. Not all state info is there … yet. This feels like harassment just waiting to happen.
How to track your mail-in ballot
Most people in the U.S. can vote by mail now. The convenience factor is undeniable. It’s beneficial to those who are elderly or otherwise homebound. Do you vote by mail? Tap or click here for steps to change your address if you move.
Since the onset of the COVID pandemic, mail-in ballots have become incredibly popular. But many Americans worry that their vote won’t be counted if sent through snail mail.
If you love the concept but are still unsure of mailing in your vote, don’t worry. There’s a way to track your ballot online that’s super slick. Keep reading to find out how it works.
How to track mail-in ballots online
Did you know you can track your mail-in ballot as it makes its way through the postal system? Your mail-in ballot is identified by your individual voter’s registry number and intelligent mail barcodes and is scanned when they’re accounted for and accepted.
After sending it out, you’ll need to consult your state’s ballot-tracking portal to track your vote. Fortunately, you can find them all listed at vote.org (if your state offers such a service. Most do, but some don’t).
Using the tool is simple. Head to the site and click on the mail-in ballot tracker link next to your state. On the next page, you’ll be asked to enter the county you’re voting in, your last name, date of birth and a form of identification. You can choose the last four digits of your Social Security number or driver’s license number.
Each state has different ways to track your ballot, so you might not need to enter all this information. Follow the onscreen instructions for your state. After entering the required data, tap the Search button or whatever button your state provides.
Finally, you’ll see a page with information about your ballot. It will include information such as the date your ballot was sent to you, the date it was returned and if it was accepted. If your ballot status is accepted, you’re good to go and your vote has been officially cast.
Why ballot tracking matters
Ballot-tracking can help you do the following as you wait for your vote to be counted:
How to spot 10 common election scams
The 2020 election is less than a month away. With millions of people voting, it’s a perfect opportunity for thieves to trick people and take their money.
How are crooks targeting victims? Phone and email scams are the most common tactics. But this year, they’re also leveraging social media to spread disinformation. Tap or click here to see why so many voters want social media shut down during the election.
81 years old
The age of a Georgia woman who recently voted for the very first time with the help of her niece. Her husband said she didn’t need to vote … or even learn to read or write. Now that he’s passed away, she’s doing things she’s never done before. Good for you, Betty!
🚨 FBI alert: Fake videos are all over social media! One video claims the FBI busted three groups for “ballot fraud,” while another drags in Kamala Harris’ husband. There’s even a phony clip with people supposedly from Haiti claiming to vote illegally in Georgia counties. These are designed to mess with our trust in elections, so keep an eye out and don’t fall for it!
WTH? The Colorado Department of State posted a spreadsheet with partial passwords to its voting machines on its website. No biggie, they say, since each machine has two unique passwords, needs physical access and is stored in an ID-only area. Someone needs to get fired — now.
Don’t believe the text: Thousands of Pennsylvania residents got a text message that read, “Records show you voted” with a link to an official Pennsylvania site. The scammy organization behind it, “AllVote,” says it was a mistake. I call BS. Hit this link for your state’s official ballot tracker.
Think twice before snapping a ballot selfie: It might be illegal. Just ask Justin Timberlake, who posted a voting pic on Instagram in 2016, then deleted it after people in the comments schooled him on Tennessee law. Check your state here. Better yet, take a photo with your “I voted!” sticker instead.
7 days
How early election officials suggest you send your mail-in ballot. Massive delays in the U.S. Postal Service could mean thousands of ballots won’t make it into the official account. I’m not taking any chances; I’m voting in person.
Clock ticking: TikTok’s future took a huge hit this past week, with the House voting 352-65 to ban the Communist China app. Cue the chaos as small-biz folks, teachers, activists and young people hit the Capitol, waving signs about TikTok’s “crucial” role in our economy and public life (paywall link). The bill still needs to be passed by the Senate.