How to Correct a Defect on Your Application or Carrier Envelope
Were you notified that there was a defect with your Application for Ballot by Mail (ABBM) or your carrier envelope? Read the information below on your ability to cure the defect.
Correcting a Defect on Your Application for Ballot by Mail (ABBM)
If you received a notice (PDF) that your ABBM was rejected because you did not provide an identification number or the number included on your ABBM did not match one of the numbers associated with your voter registration record, you may correct the defect online through the Texas Secretary of State's Ballot by Mail Tracker. When you log in to the Ballot by Mail Tracker, you will be prompted to enter your personal identification number(s). Once your personal identification number is validated by the Ballot by Mail Tracker, the Application for Ballot by Mail you previously submitted will be processed.
To utilize the Ballot by Mail Tracker*, you must enter:
- Your Texas Driver’s License Number or Texas Personal Identification Number, AND
- The last four digits of your social security number
*Note: voters will only be able to access the Ballot by Mail Tracker if the county has both the voter’s driver’s license number and last four digits of the voter’s social security number associated with the voter’s registration record. If the voter doesn’t have this information associated with their voter registration record, the voter should contact their county voter registrar to update their registration.
If you received a notice that your ABBM was rejected for another reason, you may be able to cure the defect by submitting a new ABBM (PDF) to your county's Early Voting Clerk with the corrected information.
To confirm your information as listed on your voter registration record, you may access your registration record by using the tool on the Texas Secretary of State’s My Voter Portal.
Correcting a Defect on Your Carrier Envelope
If you received a notice from either the Early Voting Clerk (PDF) or the Early Voting Ballot Board (PDF) that your carrier envelope is defective, you can make the necessary correction(s) by following the steps below.
If your carrier envelope was rejected because you did not provide an identification number or the number included on your carrier envelope did not match one of the numbers associated with your voter registration record, you may correct the defect online through the Texas Secretary of State's Ballot by Mail Tracker. To access the ballot tracker, please use the same steps listed under Correcting a Defect on Your Application for Ballot by Mail (above).
If your carrier envelope was defective for another reason (i.e., no signature, signature mismatch, a required Statement of Residence was not included, or incomplete information with respect to a witness), you can complete and return the Corrective Action Form enclosed with the notice of defect that you received. The Corrective Action Form should be mailed back to the Early Voting Clerk or you may appear in person at the Early Voting Clerk’s office to complete the form. You have until the 6th day after Election Day to correct the defect in order for your ballot to be counted.
Alternatively, if you do not wish to correct the defect online or with the Corrective Action Form, you may still vote in person by cancelling your Ballot by Mail. You may appear at an early voting or election polling place and cancel your ballot by mail. Please note: If you do not have the mail ballot to surrender at the polling place, your only option will be to vote a provisional ballot. This provisional ballot will count as long as you fill out the paperwork to cancel your ballot by mail.
