Provisional ballots to ease Election Day frustrations

PROVO — It's a voter's nightmare — waiting in line at the local polling place only to be told to turn around and go home.

Sweet dreams, voters. The nightmare is over.

Thanks to provisional ballots, registered voters who mistakenly show up at the wrong polling place can still make their vote count.

"They make it so that nobody gets turned away at the polling place," state elections director Amy Naccarato said. "The provisional ballot is great because you can go to your polling place, and if your name is not on the list, you're not just told, 'Sorry you can't vote.' You're given a chance."

Provisional ballots may be used when a voter is challenged for any reason, but only if the voter can show identification and proof of residency. Election judges place the ballot in a sealed envelope. County clerks later verify the person's eligibility to vote in the election and add those numbers in the final vote counts.

For example, voters who move to a new home located in a different precinct should re-register to vote. If they forget, their names will not be on the voting books in their new neighborhood's precinct. Luckily, these voters can use a provisional ballot, Naccarato said.

Utah voters got their first taste of provisional ballots in the 2002 congressional race. It took three weeks to finalize the close 2nd Congressional District race between Jim Matheson and John Swallow.

Federal election reforms require provisional ballots to be used across the nation. This year marks the first election where municipalities must use provisional ballots.

"It seems to be a smooth system, and maybe a little easier on the voter," said Marilyn Perry, Provo city recorder. "It worked for us well in the primary. We'll see how it goes this time."

Last month's primary was a dress rehearsal of sorts for local city recorders with no experience with provisional ballots. Payson's primary made one candidate a winner, a loser and a winner again in a matter of days.

Randy Christensen came out of the primary election with a one-vote edge over Tom DeGraw. But after the city's 31 provisional ballots were counted, Christensen found himself on the wrong side of another one-vote split.

Christensen demanded a recount, and the final tally made him a two-vote victor.

"There are so many outstanding ballots on election night that it takes some time to reconcile those and then eventually count them," Naccarato said. "The results could change.

"Elections aren't over on election night any more."