Cure period for absentee and mail-in ballots

Election Information
2025 election and voting dates
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration.
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubmit

Ballot curing is a two-part process that involves notifying voters of issues with their ballots and allowing them to correct those issues. Absentee/mail-in ballots must meet a variety of state requirements to be verified and counted. All 50 states require voters to sign their absentee/mail-in ballot return envelopes. As of November 2025, 33 states required officials to notify voters and allow voters to correct signature errors in the event of a missing signature or a discrepancy in signature matching. In states that do not have a ballot curing process, ballots returned without signatures — or, in states that conduct signature matching, with mismatched signatures — are not counted.

Voters in many states can cure their ballots after Election Day. As of October 2025, 24 states explicitly allowed voters to cure their ballots after Election Day, six states required that curing take place on or before Election Day, and three states did not stipulate ballot curing timelines in statute. In Louisiana, voters were required to cure ballot deficiencies by 4:30 p.m. on the day before the election. In Oregon, voters could cure their ballots until the 21st calendar day after Election Day.

Context

Several factors, including the overall number of curable absentee/mail-in ballots, requirements for election officials related to curable ballots, and rules dictating the method and date by which a voter can fix their ballot or cast a replacement, may impact how quickly election officials tabulate absentee/mail-in ballots and report election results.

In the 2024 election, 585,457 absentee/mail-in ballots entered the cure process, accounting for 1.5% of returned absentee/mail-in ballots nationally, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Nationally, 54.3% of absentee/mail-in ballots were successfully cured, though not every state with a cure period reported data to the EAC. The state with the highest percentage of absentee/mail-in ballots that underwent curing was Texas, with 5.8%. The lowest was Maryland with 0.2%.

Overview of states with ballot curing provisions

As of October 2025, 13 states with a Democratic trifecta had ballot curing provisions, while 11 states with Republican trifectas and nine states with divided governments did.

The map below shows the 33 states with ballot curing provisions:

Laws by state

Ballot curing laws typically include two elements: a deadline by which election officials must determine and notify a voter of the need to cure a ballot discrepancy, called notification, as well as a description of how, and by when, a voter may correct and successfully cure their ballot discrepancy, called correction.

Alabama

Alabama does not have a cure process.

Alaska

Alaska does not have a cure process.

Arizona

Notification

Arizona law says, "If the signature is inconsistent with the elector's signature on the elector's registration record, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall make reasonable efforts to contact the voter, advise the voter of the inconsistent signature and allow the voter to correct or the county to confirm the inconsistent signature."

Correction

Arizona law says, election officials "shall allow signatures to be corrected not later than the fifth business day after a primary, general or special election that includes a federal office or the third business day after any other election." In addition to regular business hours, Arizona law requires city or town clerk's offices to be open "the Friday and weekend before and the Friday and weekend after the election" to allow for ballot curing. If a signature is missing altogether, "the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections shall make reasonable efforts to contact the elector, advise the elector of the missing signature and allow the elector to add the elector's signature not later than 7:00 p.m. on election day."

Arkansas

Arkansas does not have a cure process.

California

Notification

California law says, "on or before the next business day after a determination that a voter’s signature does not compare pursuant to subdivision (c), but not later than eight days prior to the certification of the election, the elections official shall send by first-class mail notice to the voter of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to the certification of the election. The notice shall include a return envelope, with postage paid, for the voter to return a signature verification statement."

California law also says, "If an elections official has a telephone number or email address on file for a voter whose signature does not compare pursuant to subdivision (c), the elections official shall notify the voter by telephone, a text message, or email of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature. If an elections official calls the voter and the voter does not answer, the elections official shall attempt to leave a voicemail message."

Correction

California law says, "The signature verification statement must be received by the elections official of the county where you are registered to vote no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to certification of the election."

Colorado

Notification

In the case of a mismatched signature, Colorado law says, "the county clerk and recorder shall, within three days after the signature deficiency has been confirmed, but in no event later than two days after election day, send to the eligible elector at the address indicated in the registration records and to the eligible elector’s electronic mail address if available a letter explaining the discrepancy in signatures and a form for the eligible elector to confirm that the elector returned a ballot to the county clerk and recorder."

In the case of a missing signature, Colorado law says, "the county clerk and recorder shall, within three days after the missing signature is confirmed, but in no event later than two days after election day, send to the eligible elector at the address indicated in the registration records and to the eligible elector’s electronic mail address if available a letter explaining the need for a signature for verification purposes and a form with instructions for the eligible elector..."

Correction

In the case of missing signatures, Colorado law says, "If the county clerk and recorder receives the form within eight days after election day confirming that the eligible elector returned a ballot to the county clerk and recorder and enclosing a copy of the eligible elector’s identification as defined in section 1-1-104 (19.5), and if the ballot is otherwise valid, the ballot shall be counted."

The period is the same for mismatched signatures. Colorado law says, "If the county clerk and recorder receives the form within eight days after election day confirming that the elector returned a ballot to the county clerk and recorder and enclosing a copy of the elector’s identification as defined in section 1-1-104 (19.5), and if the ballot is otherwise valid, the ballot shall be counted."

Connecticut

Connecticut does not have a cure process.

Delaware

Delaware does not have a cure process.

Florida

Notification

Florida law says, "As soon as practicable, the supervisor shall, on behalf of the county canvassing board, attempt to notify an elector who has returned a vote-by-mail ballot that does not include the elector’s signature or contains a signature that does not match the elector’s signature in the registration books or precinct register by:

1. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by e-mail and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the supervisor’s website;

2. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by text message and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the supervisor’s website; or

3. Notifying the elector of the signature deficiency by telephone and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the supervisor’s website."

In addition, up until the day before the election, the "supervisor must notify the elector of the signature deficiency by first-class mail and direct the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the supervisor’s website."

Correction

Florida law says, "The supervisor shall allow such an elector to complete and submit an affidavit in order to cure the vote-by-mail ballot until 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election."

Georgia

Notification

Georgia law says, "When a timely submitted absentee ballot is rejected, the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk shall send the elector notice of such rejection and opportunity to cure by mailing written notice, and attempt to notify the elector by telephone and email, if a telephone number or email is on the elector's voter registration record or absentee ballot application, no later than the close of business on the third business day after receiving the absentee ballot. However, for any timely submitted absentee ballot that is rejected within eleven days of Election Day, the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk shall send the elector notice of such rejection and opportunity to cure by mailing written notice, and attempt to notify the elector by telephone and email, if a telephone number or email is on the elector's voter registration record or absentee ballot application, no later than close of business on the next business day."

Correction

Georgia law says, "Such elector shall have until the end of the period for verifying provisional ballots contained in subsection (c) of Code Section 21-2-419 to cure the problem resulting in the rejection of the ballot." The referenced section of code says there is a three day period for the registrars to determine whether a voter casting a provisional ballot is eligible to vote.

Hawaii

Notification

Hawaii law says, "the clerk shall make an attempt to notify the voter by first class mail, telephone, or electronic mail to inform the voter of the procedure to correct the deficiency."

Correction

Hawaii law says, "The voter shall have five business days after the date of the election to cure the deficiency."

Idaho

Idaho does not have a cure process.

Illinois

Notification

Illinois law says, "the election authority shall, within 2 days after the rejection but in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots, notify the vote by mail voter that his or her ballot was rejected."

Correction

Illinois law says, "The notice shall inform the voter of the reason or reasons the ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the election authority, on or before the 14th day after the election, to show cause as to why the ballot should not be rejected."

Indiana

Notification

Indiana law specifies that election officials must notify an absentee voter of a signature mismatch determination within two business days after the determination is made by election officials.

Correction

Indiana law requires that, in the event of a signature mismatch, a voter submit a signed signature verification affidavit no later than noon eight days after Election Day.

Iowa

Notification

Iowa law says election officials must notify the voter within 24 hours if the voter's signature is missing from the absentee ballot affidavit.

Correction

Iowa law says a voter may vote a replacement ballot, surrender their absentee ballot and vote in-person at their polling place, or "complete the affidavit in person at the office of the commissioner not later than the time polls close on election day."

Kansas

Notification

Kansas law says, "The county election officer shall attempt to contact each person who submits an advance voting ballot where there is no signature or where the signature does not match with the signature on file."

Correction

Kansas law says voters are allowed "the opportunity to correct the deficiency before the commencement of the final county canvass."

Kentucky

Notification

Under Kentucky law, "the county board of elections, central ballot counting board, or the county clerk shall make a reasonable effort to contact the voter and provide notice to the voter with a timeframe and manner in which the voter may cure his or her signature."

Correction

Under Kentucky law, voters must cure their signature before the close of polls on Election Day.

Louisiana

Notification

Louisiana law says, "the registrar of voters shall segregate the ballot envelope and promptly notify the voter of the ballot envelope flap deficiency and of the opportunity to cure the deficiency."

Correction

Louisiana law says, "Voters are required to appear in person at their registrar of voters office during normal business hours until 4:30 p.m. the day before the election to cure the ballot envelope flap deficiency."

Maine

Notification

Maine law says, "The clerk must notify the voter within one business day of receiving the absentee ballot, unless the absentee ballot is received on election day or less than 24 hours before election day, in which case the clerk shall make a good faith effort to notify the voter as quickly as possible."

Correction

Maine law allows voters to cure any ballot deficiencies up until the absentee ballot receipt deadline, which is the close of polls on election day. For certain deficiencies, such as a mismatched signature, Maine law instructs election officials to accept but challenge a deficient ballot that is not cured by the deadline.

Maryland

Notification

Maryland law requires election officials to notify a voter of a curable ballot deficiency "as soon as practicable but not later than 3 business days after" the deficiency is identified, and "to provide the voter an opportunity to correct the omission and have the ballot counted."

Correction

Maryland law says that voters must "correct the omission before 10 a.m. on the day that is 10 days after Election Day."

Massachusetts

Notification

Massachusetts law says election officials, "shall notify, as soon as possible, each voter whose ballot was rejected that such ballot has been rejected."

Correction

Massachusetts law allows voters to submit a new absentee ballot.

Michigan

Notification

Michigan laws says, "The clerk must notify the elector by telephone, email, or text message, if available."

Correction

Michigan law says, "the elector must be permitted an opportunity to cure the deficiency as provided under section 766a until 5 p.m. on the third day following the election."

Minnesota

Notification

If a ballot is rejected more than five days from an election, Minnesota law requires election officials to "provide the voter with a replacement absentee ballot and signature envelope in place of the rejected ballot." If a ballot is rejected within five days, Minnesota law requires contacting the voter by "the method or methods of communication provided by the voter on the voter's application for an absentee ballot or voter registration."

Correction

Minnesota law allows voters to vote a replacement ballot.

Mississippi

Notification

Mississippi laws says, "When a voter’s absentee ballot is rejected under Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-639 for the signatures not corresponding on the absentee application and absentee ballot envelope, the registrar must notify the voter within one (1) business day of the election that the voter’s absentee ballot has been tentatively rejected."

Correction

Mississippi laws says voters have until noon on 10th calendar day post-election to correct the deficiency.

Missouri

Missouri does not have a cure process.

Montana

Notification

Montana law says, "the election administrator shall give notice to the elector by the most expedient method available" after identifying a curable deficiency.

Correction

Montana law says, allows voters until 8 p.m. on Election Day to cure a deficiency or to vote a replacement ballot.

Nebraska

Nebraska does not have a cure process.

Nevada

Notification

Nevada law requires election officials to notify voters of missing or mismatched signatures.

Correction

Nevada law says, "the voter must provide a signature or a confirmation, as applicable, not later than 5 p.m. on the sixth day following the election."

New Hampshire

New Hampshire does not have a cure process.

New Jersey

Notification

If election officials reject a mail-in ballot because of a missing or mismatched signature, officials must notify the voter within 24 hours and send a cure form.

Correction

New Jersey law allows voters to cure a deficiency up to, "not later than 48 hours prior to the final certification of the results of the election other than the general election, or in the case of a general election within 11 days after the general election."

New Mexico

Notification

New Mexico law says, "The county clerk shall immediately attempt to contact a voter whose ballot qualification was rejected to provide notice to the voter of the rejection, opportunity to satisfy the reason for the rejection, and the process for curing reason for the rejection."

Correction

New Mexico law says, "Voters may cure a rejected ballot in-person at the county clerk's office of the county where the ballot was issued or by electronic means or by regular mail."

New York

Notification

New York law says, "The board shall indicate the issue that must be cured on the ballot envelope and, within one day of such determination, send to the voter's address indicated in the registration records and, if different, the mailing address indicated on the ballot application, a notice explaining the reason for such rejection and the procedure to cure the rejection. The board shall also contact the voter by either electronic mail or telephone, if such information is available to the board in the voter's registration information."

Correction

New York law says, "Such cure affirmation shall be received by the board no later than seven business days after the board's mailing of such curable rejection notice or by five p.m. on the seventh day following the election, whichever is later. ."

North Carolina

Notification

North Carolina requires county boards of elections to promptly contact a voter about a curable defect.

Correction

North Carolina law requires county board of elections to determine how voters can cure their ballots. Ballots must be cured by 12 p.m. on the third business day following the election.

North Dakota

Notification

North Dakota law says, "the election official shall notify the absent voter the signatures do not appear to match."

Correction

North Dakota law says that a verification curing the mismatched signature "must be completed by the absent voter before close of the meeting of the canvassing board occurring thirteen days after the election."

Ohio

Notification

Ohio law says, "the election officials shall mail a written notice to the voter, informing the voter of the nature of the defect."

Correction

Ohio law says, "the voter must provide the necessary information to the board of elections in writing and on a form prescribed by the secretary of state not later than the fourth day after the day of the election."

Oklahoma

Oklahoma does not have a cure process.

Oregon

Notification

Oregon law says, "the county clerk shall mail to the elector a notice that describes the nature of the challenge."

Correction

Oregon law says, "In order for the vote of the elector to be counted, the elector must provide evidence sufficient to disprove the challenge not later than the 21st calendar day after the date of the election."

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania does not have a cure process. According to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State, "Under Pennsylvania law, counties are not required to allow voters to address errors on envelopes that have been returned to their county, but they are permitted to do so."

Rhode Island

Notification

Rhode Island law says, "the Board shall immediately attempt to notify the voter by mail, and electronically if the voter has subscribed to receive such correspondence from election officials, that the ballot has been challenged, or not accepted by the Board, due to a signature discrepancy."

Correction

Rhode Island law says that the missing or deficient information must be received, "no later than 4:00 p.m. on the third day following the date of a primary or seven (7) days following the date of an election."

South Carolina

South Carolina does not have a cure process.

South Dakota

South Dakota does not have a cure process.

Tennessee

Tennessee does not have a cure process.

Texas

Notification

Texas law says, "Not later than the second day after a signature verification committee discovers a defect described by Subsection (a) and before the committee decides whether to accept or reject a timely delivered ballot under Section 87.027, the committee shall send the voter a notice of the defect and a corrective action form developed by the secretary of state under Subsection (c-1) by mail or by common or contract carrier."

Correction

Texas law allows voters to correct a ballot defect by mail by the close of polls on Election Day, or in-person at a clerk's office no later than the sixth day after the election.

Utah

Notification

Utah law says, "The election officer shall, within two business days after the day on which an individual's ballot is rejected, notify the individual of the rejection and the reason for the rejection, by phone, mail, email, or, if consent is obtained, text message." Notification is not required if the ballot is cured within one day of being rejected.

Correction

Utah law allows voters to submit an affidavit curing a ballot deficiency by "no later than noon on the last business day before the day on which the canvass begins."

Vermont

Notification

Vermont law says, "Not later than the next business day transmit a notice, with information required by the Secretary of State’s office, to the voter informing the voter that the voter’s ballot was deemed defective and rejected, the reason it was deemed defective, and the voter’s opportunity to correct the error." Within five business days of the election, "the clerk is not required to mail a notice to those voters whose ballots have been deemed defective. In these cases, the clerk shall make a reasonable effort to provide notice to the voter as soon as possible using any contact information for the voter, other than the mailing address, that is contained in the voter checklist and shall record the ballot as defective in the online election management system not later than 24 hours after the ballot is deemed defective."

Correction

Vermont law says, "the voter may cure the defect until the closing of the polls on election day."

Virginia

Notification

Under Virginia law, if a curable defect is discovered in a ballot received by the Friday before the election, then, "Within three days of such finding, the registrar shall notify the voter in writing or by email of the error or failure and shall provide information to the voter on how to correct the issue so his ballot may be counted."

Correction

Virginia law says, "The voter shall be entitled to make such necessary corrections before noon on the third day after the election, and his ballot shall then be counted pursuant to the procedures set forth in this chapter if he is found to be entitled to vote."

Washington

Notification

Washington law says: "the auditor shall notify the voter by first-class mail, and, if the auditor has a telephone number or email address on file for a voter, by telephone, text message, or email, enclosing a copy of the declaration if notified by first-class mail or email, and advise the voter both that the signature on the ballot declaration does not match the signature on file and of the correct procedures for updating his or her signature on the voter registration file. If the ballot is received within five business days of the final meeting of the canvassing board, or the voter has been notified by first-class mail and has not responded at least five business days before the final meeting of the canvassing board, then the auditor shall attempt to notify the voter by telephone, text message, or email, using the voter registration record information."

Correction

Washington law allows voters until "no later than the close of business the day before the election is certified" to cure a deficiency.

West Virginia

West Virginia does not have a cure process.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin does not have a cure process.

Wyoming

Wyoming does not have a cure process.

Cure period legislation

The table below lists bills related to cure periods introduced during (or carried over to) each state's regular legislative session this year. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official bill name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Sponsor party
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by state and then by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia

• 
  Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

  Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker provides daily updates on legislative activity related to election policy in all 50 states.
  
  Our election policy experts translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries. And because it's from Ballotpedia, our legislation tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan.
  Search bills
• 
  Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

  Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state.
  
  These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.
  Read the latest report
• 
  
  Subscribe to The Ballot Bulletin

  The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy.
  
  The newsletter tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
  Subscribe

See also

• Absentee/mail-in voting
• Timelines related to absentee/mail-in ballot processing and counting
• Factors affecting the speed of ballot counting and delivery of unofficial election results, with a case study of California and Florida

Footnotes

Ballotpedia

About

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

---

Executive: Leslie Graves, Founder and CEO • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves, Director of Communications • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Frank Festa • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond
External Relations: Geoff Pallay, Director of External Relations • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Ashley Fleming • Thomas Mardik • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski, Director of Operations • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Tech: Matt Latourelle, Director of Technology Operations • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Joseph Sanchez • Mary Susmitha

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

---

Editorial Content

Josh Altic, Director of Content • Daniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & Data • Cory Eucalitto, Associate Director of Features • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot Measures • Mandy McConnell, Managing Editor of News • Doug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local Expansion • Abbey Smith, Managing Editor of Elections • Janie Valentine, Managing Editor of Law • Joel Williams. Managing Editor of Events • Andrew Bahl • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Jon Dunn • Victoria Edwards • Thomas Ellis • Nicole Fisher • Joseph Greaney • Thomas Grobben • Brianna Hosea • Molly Kehoe • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Norm Leahy, Senior Editor • Nathan Maxwell • Jimmy McAllister • Brandon McCauley • Ellie Mikus • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Annelise Reinwald • Ethan Rice • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Emma Soukup • Alexis Thacker • Mina Vogel • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox