ballot curing

[baluht kyoor-ing]

noun

1. the process by which voters are given the opportunity to correct clerical-level errors, such as a missing signature on a submitted ballot, that would otherwise make their ballot technically invalid and consequently uncounted.

   Guidance for ballot curing was issued by the secretary of state following increased usage of absentee ballots.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballot curing¹

First recorded in 2020

Example Sentences

Hundreds of volunteers and campaign staffers went door to door, sometimes returning to the same doorstep four or five times, to notify voters and walk them through how to correct the issues, a process known as “ballot curing.”

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In addition to election officials reaching out to affected voters, political parties have also gathered armies of volunteers to reach out to voters — especially those who are likely supporters of their candidates and causes — for ballot curing.

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Through the increasingly common process known as “ballot curing,” campaigns are contacting voters whose ballots were not counted because of a technicality and giving them a chance to correct their mistakes.

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“People say it all the time, but you can actually see it with ballot curing in these close contests.”

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Political campaigns are seizing on the opportunity to fundraise, sending pleas to their supporters for money to help the ballot curing process.

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