May 29, 2026

We Must Stand in the Gap

Hi Friend!

This week is to the point: election integrity reports are picking up. There's lots to unpack here, but bear with me...you'll want to know this.

A few recent examples we've received this week:

A voter feeling disenfranchised after requesting a paper ballot but being told they could only vote using a machine — either in person or provisionally.
A voter discovering their preferred candidate was missing from the ballot altogether due to very recent redistricting changes.
Electioneering directly outside a polling place — including a table staffed by individuals asking voters whether they supported a specific candidate, then reportedly asking voters as they exited if they’d like to “vote again.”

These situations can be confusing, frustrating, and sometimes intimidating in the moment. Knowing what your rights are and how to react when put in similar positions quickly becomes important.

So this week, we’re breaking down a few quick examples using the reports above to help you better understand what to watch for, what questions to ask, and when to speak up.

What to do...and what to know before going to vote.

The voter feeling disenfranchised:

Some states have regulations you may not appreciate whether it's only mail in, no hand counting, or only machine voting. In this particular case, and unfortunately, the voter did not have another option. Under CA's voting machines provision, the state requires that "An elections official or the governing body of any jurisdiction that administers elections shall use a voting machine, as defined in Section 361, or a voting system, as defined in Section 362".

The above isn't what a voter wants to hear, but the best thing we can all do is to just vote. We all understand the risks, concerns, and setbacks with machines and election software, but there are ways to track to your ballot and voting record using Scan. Check. Protect.

You can take it a step further and advocate for election legislation reform, but priority number one in this particular case is to know your election laws and rights before going in to vote. From SCP, click on your state to find a wealth of info under the tabs:

Missing candidate from ballot:

Verify first. Pull your official sample ballot from your state or local election office. Ballots may vary by precinct, district, and party. The candidate may legitimately not be in your race, or there could be a redistricting mix-up, but you can find your office using TTV's Info by State page. If you can't use a phone in the polling place, step outside to verify.
Talk to a poll worker immediately. They can confirm whether it's an error or expected. If you've already marked the ballot, ask to "spoil" it and wait until you can get a fresh one.
Never write notes, arrows, or names in the margins. This can spoil your entire ballot. Most states define a spoiled ballot as one a voter has improperly marked or damaged, and it won't count.
Use the write-in line, but check the rules. Most states only count write-ins for candidates who officially filed as write-in candidates before the election. Verify your state's filing requirements first.
Provisional ballot ≠ missing candidate fix. Provisional ballots are for eligibility disputes, not missing names. Do not cast a provisional ballot as an alternative in this case.
Report it. Document the issue (precinct, time, ballot style number) and file with the right office:

Local first: Contact your county election office: Info by State → Your state → Election Info → Call Your County. In most cases, there was a mix-up and they should be able to deliver the correct ballots ASAP.
State next: Same steps as above, only select "State Elections" as the final step. It is generally a good idea to file this report even if foul play wasn't an issue so that everyone can get on the same procedural page.
Federal: File this report only when there is strong evidence of fraud. DOJ Civil Rights Division Voting Section: 1-800-253-3931 or usa.gov/voter-fraud

Bottom line: A candidate's exclusion from the ballot is *generally* a legal fight that happens before the election. At the polls, your job is to know your local laws, vote, document what you see, and report through proper channels.

Electioneering/Intimidation:

Know the buffer zones. Every state bans electioneering inside polling places and within a set distance outside — typically 25 to 150 feet. Activity covered includes campaign apparel, signs, distributing literature, soliciting votes, and questioning voters about their choices. The Supreme Court upheld these zones in Burson v. Freeman (1992) as necessary to prevent voter intimidation and fraud.
Federal double-voting law. Soliciting voters to vote a second time is a federal felony in any election with a federal candidate on the ballot. "Whoever votes more than once in an election... shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both" (52 U.S.C. § 10307(e)).
Voter intimidation. Federal law (52 U.S.C. § 20511) and most state codes criminalize knowingly and willfully intimidating, threatening, or coercing any person for registering to vote, voting, or attempting to vote. Direct questioning of voters about their choices often meets this standard.

If you witness it

Document time, location, exact wording used, descriptions, witnesses. Check your state's photo/video rules first.
Report on-site to the chief judge or precinct election official.
Call your county election office and Secretary of State.
Federal DOJ complaint to 1-800-253-3931 or usa.gov/voter-fraud — especially if "vote again" language was used.
Notify your state Attorney General
Do not approach the person/persons committing the action. Leave it to the proper authorities to mitigate.

The "vote again" prompt is the serious one. Even if no voter acts on it, the solicitation itself is the violation under federal conspiracy provisions. Stacked with electioneering inside the buffer zone and direct questioning of voters, a single table can trigger multiple state and federal violations simultaneously.

Most election issues don't start with fraud. They start with confusion, misinformation accusations that lead to the fear of speaking out, procedural mistakes, or voters who simply don't know what their rights are.

Know your laws and rights. Document what you see. And when something doesn't look right, report it through the proper channels. If you're put in a position where you don't know, contact us. We're here to help.

An engaged — and informed — citizen is one of the strongest safeguards of election integrity.

Ever Onward!