It is important to know how to properly mark your ballot. Ballot counting machines "see" the marks you make and record your votes.
- If you vote at the polls, use the pen provided by poll workers
- If you vote by mail, you may use a blue or black pen - no other colored ink or pencil!
Carefully read your ballot, as it will tell you how many votes you may cast for each contest.
Important: Do not sign or initial the ballot(s), make any stray marks, or attempt to erase a vote if you make a mistake, as your ballot may then need to be duplicated in order to count.
Overvotes
Marking more voting spaces than allowed is called an "overvote," and none of your votes for that contest will be counted.
Undervotes
If you mark fewer voting spaces than allowed, it is an "undervote," and all votes for that contest will be counted. You are not required to vote on every contest on your ballot.
Voting for Write-in Candidates
Voters may decide to vote for someone who does not appear on the ballot by writing that candidate's name in the space provided for a particular contest.
There are specific requirements that a candidate must satisfy to become qualified and thus eligible to receive votes.
Note: Votes for write-in candidates will be counted only if the person is a qualified write-in candidate.
A list of qualified write-in candidates is provided at every polling place.
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