As the showdown between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump approaches in 2024, a large portion of the American population is once again choosing to vote by mail. According to the University of Florida, over 66 million mail-in ballots have been requested and over 30 million have been returned.

While mail-in voting has become more common since the pandemic, there are some current breakdowns have shaken some voters' trust in the system. Just this week, ballot boxes were cast in Oregon and Washington set on firewhile inside MiamiA stack of sealed ballots fell from a poll worker's truck, sparking concern among voters.

If you have already cast your vote by mail or plan to do so in the coming days but are concerned about it reaching its final destination, you may be able to track the status of your ballot online in your state. Beyond reducing call volume to local election offices, these tracking systems can restore confidence in the voting process, said national election expert Amber McReynolds.

“Voters, if they've registered for something like this or even just call and look up the information, it actually gives them peace of mind that their ballot was received and successfully processed,” McReynolds said.

Which states allow you to track your ballot?

All states – except Illinois, Missouri and Wyoming – as well as Washington, DC, offer some form of ballot tracking for absentee and absentee ballots. Vote.org provides links to all 47 states' tracking tools, as well as resources for people who have questions about the status of a provisional ballot. You can find the search tool for your state here.

Steps to track your ballot

So you've submitted your absentee or absentee ballot. What now?

The first step is to navigate to your state's online portal, where you'll be asked to provide basic information like your first and last name, date of birth, and zip code.

Tracking varies by state, so in some cases voters may only see basic information, such as: B. when your ballot was sent and when it was received in the online portal. In other cases, they have the option to sign up for text, email or phone call notifications through services like BallotTrax or Enhanced Voting. These systems provide the voter with more detailed updates via text message, email or call throughout the voting process.

Another way to keep track of your ballots is to sign up for informed delivery through this US postal service, which allows users to preview images of incoming mail and packages.

How will my ballot be tracked?

Tracking ballots typically requires coordination between the USPS, election officials, and the ballot printing and preparation vendor.

Like Enhanced Voting, another online tracking tool, BallotTrax uses what it calls a unique intelligent email barcode identifier (IMB) that collects data about the whereabouts of ballots. The USPS barcodes embedded on the envelopes, combined with voter registration data, give the company insight into the ballot's lifecycle, allowing it to monitor it at every step and push updates to voters, such as when the ballot is delivered, for example . They do this without ever learning any personal voting information.

“We never have access to the ballot itself, and it remains anonymous throughout its lifecycle,” said Steve Olsen, president of BallotTrax.

What can you do if you haven't received your ballot yet or your ballot hasn't been received and counted?

Voters can contact local election officials if they encounter problems in the voting process or have general questions about their voting options. According to Vote.org, officials can offer advice on whether it is possible to vote with a replacement mail-in ballot or whether it is best to cancel the mail-in ballot and vote in person on Election Day instead.

If you have questions, you can find contact information for your local election offices at vote.org.

What other resources are there?

Nonpartisan volunteers on the vote.org national hotline can answer general election questions at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Around 4,000 volunteers will be on duty on election day. Below you will find a selection of questions that you can answer.

• Am I registered/is it too late to register?
• Am I eligible for early voting/absentee voting?
• How do I receive a mail-in ballot?
• Where is my polling station?
• My mail-in ballot didn't arrive and I won't be in the state on Election Day. What can I do to vote?
• Is my early voting location the same as my polling place on Election Day?
• The secret envelope is missing from my mail-in ballot. What can I do?
• I am a student attending school out of state. Can I choose where I attend school?
• I have already been convicted of a crime. Can I choose?