VOTE SAFE IN 2022 Part #5— What Do I Do IF…..?

In this article, we will respond to a series of “What If” scenarios relevant to the mailing of vote by mail ballots to all active voters, and provide you with how to address each situation.

WHAT DO I DO IF I receive more than one ballot directed to me at my address?

  • Photograph or photocopy both together to include with your incident report. Inform the elections office in your county that you may be on the rolls twice. Then vote (or surrender) one ballot and shred the other.
     
  • Download a Citizen Incident Statement https://www.eip-ca.com/incident.htm, fill it out and send it immediately to EIPCa as directed with attached photos/photocopies.

WHAT DO I DO IF I receive a ballot addressed to persons who used to live at my address but no longer do?

  • If you are still in touch with those individuals, inform them of the situation and urge them to visit the county elections office website and request to be removed from the rolls.
     
  • Mark the envelope “No such person at this address—Return to Sender”. Photograph or photocopy the front and back of the envelope to include with your incident report, and then put it back in the U.S. mail. (Do not destroy—since it is not addressed to you, keeping or destroying it constitutes mail fraud.)
     
  • If the addressee is deceased, mark the envelope “Deceased—Return to Sender”, photograph or photocopy the front and back of the envelope to include with your incident report, and put it back in the U.S. mail. If the deceased is a friend or family member and you have access to the death certificate, contact or visit the county elections office and request the person be removed from the voter rolls, providing evidence as requested.
     
  • If you live in an apartment complex, such envelopes will often be stacked on top of the mail boxes. Take the responsibility to return them as described above before they fall into the hands of an unscrupulous ballot trafficker.
     
  • Download a Citizen Incident Statement https://www.eip-ca.com/incident.htm, fill it out and send it immediately to EIPCa as directed with attached photos/photocopies.

WHAT DO I DO IF I receive a ballot addressed to an unknown person at my address?

  • Mark the envelope “No such person at this address—Return to Sender”, photograph or photocopy the front and back of the envelope to include with your incident report, and put it back in the U.S. mail. (Do not destroy—since it is not addressed to you, keeping or destroying it constitutes mail fraud.)
     
  • Download a Citizen Incident Statement https://www.eip-ca.com/incident.htm, fill it out and send it immediately to EIPCa as directed with attached photos/photocopies.

WHAT DO I DO IF I or someone in my household is not eligible to vote but receives a ballot?

  • DO NOT use the ballot. Photograph or photocopy it to include with your incident report.
     
  • Call your elections office to report the situation.
     
  • Click on cancellation-request-form, print the form, fill it out and turn it in to your county elections office. The form may be found in other languages at sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration.
     
  • Return or destroy the ballot as instructed by your elections office.
     
  • Follow up a few weeks later by checking your registration status at your county elections office website or sos.ca.gov/elections/cavoter.
     
  • Download a Citizen Incident Statement https://www.eip-ca.com/incident.htm, fill it out and send it immediately to EIPCa as directed with attached photos/photocopies.

WHAT DO I DO IF I do not receive my ballot or receive the wrong ballot or receive a damaged ballot?

  • Ballots must all be in the mail to you no later than October 14. Be sure you are signed up for Ballottrax so you will know the exact day your ballot is mailed. (https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/) Do not wait for it any longer than 5 days after that to act.
     
  • Contact your county elections office IMMEDIATELY and request a new ballot be mailed. Do NOT take no for an answer, as further delay could allow your “lost” ballot to be “found” by an unscrupulous person, voted and counted while you are patiently waiting. OR, visit your county elections office in person for a replacement. (Even if you are going to vote in person, being in possession of your mail-in ballot as you check in to vote can avoid potential problems.)
     
  • Download a Citizen Incident Statement https://www.eip-ca.com/incident.htm, fill it out and send it immediately to EIPCa as directed.

WHAT DO I DO IF I soil, mismark or damage my ballot?

  • Contact your county elections office IMMEDIATELY and request a new ballot be mailed. Do NOT take no for an answer. OR, visit your county elections office in person for a replacement.
     
  • If you are told to just make a correction and send it in and they will “take care of it”, just say NO. Any such alteration will trigger adjudication—someone else will determine your “intent” and alter your ballot accordingly. You are entitled to a replacement ballot—politely but firmly insist. Download a Citizen Incident Statement https://www.eip-ca.com/incident.htm, fill it out and send it immediately to EIPCa as directed.

Ballots will be mailed soon.

Please retain and share this information with as many individuals as possible.

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