Election day is finally here. And if you’ve already voted – in person or by submitting your ballot by mail – all you have to do is wait. Especially because the outcome of the neck-and-neck presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump may take some time.

One positive, actionable step you can take? Go online and use the ‘Where’s My Ballot?’ of the state. tool to confirm that your county election officials have received your ballot and will be counted.

This way you know your voice and your voice have been heard in California, from the presidential election to the state proposals and local actions that could 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 that your vote can still be counted, and there’s a whole system in place to help you do that.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about tracking your ballot and what to do if the tool spots a problem counting your vote.

How to use the ‘Where’s My Ballot’ tool in California

Visit the ‘Where’s My Ballot?’ of the state. site and fill in your details: name, date of birth and zip code. If you have registered to vote with a postal 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. By clicking ‘Details’ you can expand the notes and see exactly where your ballot is in the process.

When you see this “Complete” message, your work is done and you can relax a little knowing that your ballot is being counted and your voice will be heard in this election.

Help: I ​​see a message that my ballot is ‘Rejected’?

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

But as terrifying as the word “rejected” is, not panic: “curable” means that the problem with your ballot is one that can, thankfully, be resolved.

Why can a ballot be initially rejected but cured? It’s probably a problem with your signature: you may have forgotten to sign your ballot altogether or you may have signed a signature that doesn’t match the one on your voter registration. Learn about common issues with signatures on ballots and how to resolve them.

In these cases, your county elections office will contact you – almost certainly by mail – to “cure” (resolve) 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 receive a form to resign, which you will then return to your county elections office.

Where’s My Ballot will also show you a message stating that if your ballot has been rejected and can be cured, but if you do not receive a “letter or postcard from your county” within seven days of the election, you should contact your county. election office itself by telephone or e-mail. Find the contact information for your county elections office in our directory.

But even if the mailer from your county elections office doesn’t arrive quickly, don’t worry: Your county has a whole month after Election Day — until December 5 — to resolve these types of voter issues and certify election results.

What should I do if my ballot cannot be healed?

In some cases, Where’s My Ballot will show a message that your ballot has been “rejected,” without mentioning that it is curable.

Unfortunately, this happens when your ballot is not received on time or your ballot is missing from the envelope. It means that the problem with your ballot cannot be resolved and your vote will not be counted.

To be counted by your county elections office, your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day (November 5) and received by November 12. One way to ensure your ballot arrives in time to be counted is to submit it to an official election drop box, or hand-deliver it to your nearest open polling location before the polls close at 8:00 PM on November 5. Find where to submit your ballot near you.

Another reason why some ballots arrive too late to be counted: Voters place them in a USPS mailbox on Election Day that has already been picked up for the last time, which in many areas is 5 p.m. or earlier. Be sure to check the latest collection time in a mailbox before returning your ballot, and if you’re unsure, you can hand-deliver it to a voting location or to an official mailbox before the polls close.