"I voted for Trump," she said, "I made a mistake." How to Reply?
On a deep canvassing* call yesterday, a woman told me "I voted for Trump," and then she added, "I made a mistake." With so many people already voting this election season, what if this happens to you? What would you say?
I’m in Michigan, deep canvassing part-time into Michigan. My response to that woman could have been a lot better: I suggested that she might like to campaign for Biden, to which she replied that although she had campaigned in the past, she was unable to campaign at this time due to her disabilities. In that moment, I totally forgot that in Michigan it’s possible to get another absentee ballot, and so I was unable to tell her about the process. But I learned from my mistake, and so can you.
It might be possible to get a replacement absentee ballot in your state!
“Spoiling” an absent voter ballot
In Michigan, if you are voting at your voting place and you ruin a ballot, you can ask for a replacement ballot. In Michigan, such a ruined ballot is called “spoiled.” The same thing is true if you sent your ballot to the clerk’s office and change your mind: you can get another ballot by mail. However, there are of course details that might limit your ability to obtain a replacement ballot.
Short Version: If you sent in your ballot and want to change your mind, you can (in Michigan).
Detailed Instructions from the Michigan SOS’s office: If a voter has already voted absentee and wishes to change their vote (because the candidate has dropped out of the race, or for any other reason), a voter can spoil their ballot by submitting a written request to their city or township clerk. The voter must sign the request and state if they would like a new absentee ballot mailed to them or if they will vote at the polls. This request must be received by 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election if received by mail. An absentee ballot may be spoiled in person at the clerk’s office until 4 p.m. the Monday prior to the election. The voter can obtain a new absentee ballot there or vote at the polls. There is no option on Election Day to spoil an absentee ballot that has been received by the clerk. (Michigan Secretary of State's website.)
Those mailing dates probably do not reflect the current USPS situation. It looks like that website needs to be updated.
Your state might use different terms for absentee ballot, voting precinct, and spoiling a ballot. You will have to discover the proper terminology in your state to be able to help voters who spoil their ballot get a replacement.
* Deep canvassing:
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