Primary definition
A ballot cast under the Help America Vote Act by a voter whose eligibility to vote is in question, to be counted only if the voter's eligibility is subsequently verified under state law.
Also known asfail-safe ballot · conditional ballot · challenge ballot
5 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 9, 2026
— U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Voting SectionView source
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UDJCRD
A ballot cast under the Help America Vote Act by a voter whose eligibility to vote is in question, to be counted only if the voter's eligibility is subsequently verified under state law.
U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Voting Section · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Provisional Ballot. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 20, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/provisional-ballot
Sources
5 cited · last checked Aug 9, 2026
01
U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Voting Section
DOJ Civil Rights Division Voting Section
High consensus
02
Pilot Implementation Study of Risk-Limiting Audit Methods in the State of Rhode Island
Pilot Implementation Study of Risk-Limiting Audit Methods in the State of Rhode Island
Multi-source
03
Electronic Voting Glossary
Electronic Voting Glossary
Multi-source
04
EAC Glossary of Terms
EAC Glossary of Terms
Multi-source
05
NIST Election Glossary
NIST Election Glossary
Multi-source
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