How do I know my ballot was counted in the 2024 election? Here's how to check

Election day is finally here. And if you've already voted – either in person or by submitting your mail-in ballot – all you have to do is wait. Especially since the results of the head-to-head presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump could still be a while away.

Is there a positive, actionable step you can take? Go online and use the state's Where's My Ballot program? Tool to confirm that your county election officials have received your ballot and are counting it.

This way, you will know that your voice and your voice have been heard in California, from the presidential election to the state's proposals and local policies that can impact the lives of everyone in our communities.

You will also be notified if there is a problem with your ballot, giving you time to work with your local election officials to resolve any issues. This process is called “curing” your ballot so your vote can continue to be counted, and there is a whole system in place to help you do this.

Read on to learn all about tracking your ballot and what you can do if the tool reports a problem counting your vote.

How to use California's Where's My Ballot tool.

Attend the state's “Where's My Ballot?” Visit the website and enter your information: name, date of birth and zip code. If you registered with a mailing address that is different from your home address, use the zip code of your home address.

The tool will then show you the status of your ballot. If you click “Details,” you can expand the notes and see exactly where your ballot is currently located.

When you see the “Completed” message, your work is done and you can rest easy knowing your ballot will be counted and your voice will be heard in this election.

Help: I ​​get a message saying my ballot was “rejected”?

If your ballot shows as “Rejected: Recoverable,” you will see the message “There is a problem with your returned ballot and it cannot be accepted.”

But as scary as the word “rejected” is, not Panic: “curable” means that the problem with your ballot can fortunately be resolved.

Why might a ballot be initially rejected but salvageable? Most likely there is a problem with your signature: you may have forgotten to sign your entire ballot envelope, or you may have provided a signature that does not match the signature on your voter list. Learn about common issues with signatures on ballots and how to fix them.

In these cases, your county elections office will contact you – most likely by mail – to “fix” the problem with your ballot so that your vote can still be counted. For example, if there is a problem with your signature, you will be sent a re-signature form, which you will then mail back to your county elections office.

Where is my ballot? You'll also see a message informing you that you should contact your county if your ballot was rejected and is repairable but you do not receive a letter or postcard from your county “within 7 days of the election.” You can contact the election office directly by phone or email. You can find the contact details of your district election office in our list.

But even if the letter from your county elections office doesn't arrive soon, don't stress: Your county has a full month after Election Day – until December 5 – to resolve such issues with voters and certify the election results.

What happens if my ballot cannot be cured?

In some cases, Where's My Ballot will display a message that your ballot has been “Rejected” without indicating that it can be remedied.

Unfortunately, this happens if your ballot doesn't arrive on time or your ballot is missing from the envelope. This means that the problem with your ballot cannot be resolved and your vote will not be counted.

In order for your ballot to be counted by your county elections office, it must be postmarked no later than Election Day (November 5th) and received by November 12th. One way to ensure your ballot arrives in time to be counted is to submit it. You can drop it off at an official ballot drop box or hand it in in person to your nearest open polling place before the polls close on November 5th at 8:00 p.m. Find out where you can drop off your ballot near you.

Another reason some ballots arrive too late to be counted: On Election Day, voters drop them into a USPS mailbox that has already had the last pickup for that day, which in many areas is 5 p.m or done earlier. Be sure to check the last pickup time at a mailbox before dropping off your ballot. If you are unsure, please instead drop it off in person at a polling station or at an official drop box before the polls close.