What if I register, but my name isn't there when I go to vote?

What if I register, but my name isn't there when I go to vote?

Thea Brodkin (Voter Service Chair) gives expert video advice on: Why do I have to register to vote?; How do I register to vote?; Do I ever have to re-register to vote? and more...

Ever since the federal government got into the act after the 2000 election with their Hava legislation, we have, all the states have what they call a provisional ballot. If you go to the polls and you do not find your name on the roster, it does not mean you cannot vote. You fill out, in California it is a pink envelope, and you give your information, and you put your signature on it, and that is like an affidavit that you are entitled to vote. And then they get you a ballot and you vote it and it goes back into this envelope. And after election night, they start looking at all of these provisional ballots and they check them one by one to make sure that you are entitled to vote. So a lot of people that moved and forgot to register, vote this way. So the new address and stuff becomes your new registration form. If you are in the wrong voting place though, of course they have to go through your ballot and mark off the ones that you were not entitled to vote for. You are only allowed to vote for the ones that you are registered to vote for.