Every election, thousands of mail ballots get rejected over fixable problems, a missing signature, a signature that doesn't match, a missing date. In many states the voter can "cure" the ballot, correcting the issue so it counts, but only if they know and act in time. Texting is the fastest way to reach those voters, and a ballot cure program can save votes a campaign already earned.
What is ballot curing?
Ballot curing is the process of fixing a defect on a mail ballot so it gets counted instead of rejected. When an election office flags a ballot, usually for a signature issue, many states give the voter a short window to resolve it. The catch is that the voter often doesn't know their ballot was flagged, and the window is tight, so reaching them fast is everything.
How do campaigns run a ballot cure program by text?
You match a list of voters with flagged ballots against your opted-in contacts and text them immediately with the fix. A broadcast to the affected voters delivers the alert fast, and P2P handles the ones who need help walking through the steps. The message is simple and urgent: your ballot needs a quick fix to count, here's how and by when. Because the window is short, speed is the whole advantage, and text is the fastest channel there is.
Why is ballot cure so high-value?
Because these are votes you already have. A cured ballot is a supporter who already voted for you and would otherwise be thrown out over a technicality, so the return on a cure program is enormous per contact. It also runs on the same infrastructure as the rest of your GOTV push, a consented list, fast broadcast, P2P for the complex cases. Of all the things a campaign texts about in the final stretch, saving already-cast votes is among the highest-yield.
Frequently asked questions
What is ballot curing?
It's fixing a defect on a mail ballot, like a missing or mismatched signature, so it counts instead of being rejected. Many states give voters a short window to cure.
How does texting help with ballot cure?
Text reaches flagged voters fast, which is critical because the cure window is short and voters often don't know their ballot was rejected. A broadcast delivers the alert, P2P helps with the steps.
Why is ballot cure worth the effort?
Because a cured ballot is a vote you already earned that would otherwise be tossed on a technicality. The return per contact is very high.
Keep reading: the 72-hour GOTV plan and what is broadcast texting?. For polling and ballot tools, see Vote.org.