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Quick

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Ballot Reconciliation:

Early Voting

Helping America Vote

About the Quick Start Guides: The EAC's Quick Start Guides are intended to familiarize local election officials with various topics

they will likely encounter in election administration. The guides are a starting point to identify areas of concern and give officials a

broad idea of factors they should consider in approaching a given topic.

What is ballot reconciliation?

Ballot reconciliation is the method in which election officials keep track of each ballot that has been printed

or issued to a voter. Tracking the number of ballots printed, used, and unused during an election cycle

ensures that election officials have accounted for every ballot created. When results are certified, election

officials can be confident that the results include every valid ballot cast. This guide's suggestions focus

mainly on reconciling early in-person ballots.

What is early voting?

Early voting is voting prior to Election Day where the voter completes the ballot in person at an elections office or other designated

voting site. Depending on the state, voters may be able to cast a ballot in person as early as 45 days before Election Day, and

jurisdictions may employ one or more early voting locations. Election officials must account for and track every ballot issued during

early voting.

Preparation

Typically, all voters throughout the jurisdiction can opt to vote at any early voting center during early voting. All ballot styles must be

available. Staff must check in voters on electronic poll books or directly through the voter registration database so check-in information

updates in real-time across the early voting locations and elections office—where staff may be processing mail ballot requests and

returns.

Direct Electronic Recording (DRE) machines, Ballot Marking

Devices (BMD), and precinct scanners:

Election officials must record the machine and electronic memory

device (as applicable) serial numbers for each device sent to a

location.

For BMDs that use blank ballot stock, record the number of

ballots sent to each location.

Hand-Marked Paper Ballots:

Election officials may either supply locations with pre-printed

ballots or blank ballot stock and print the necessary ballot style

as voters check-in.

Record the number of ballots sent to each location.

Reconciliation

As early voting typically goes on for several days or weeks, staff must reconcile early voting ballots

every day of early voting. Reconciliation should include the following steps: 

Before opening the early voting location:

Verify the number of ballots provided

Document the machine counts on any DREs, BMDs, or precinct scanners

Starting on the first day of early voting, machine counts should be zero and will accumulate

over the course of early voting

Verify ballots and equipment were properly secured 

During early voting hours: 

Document voter check-ins, any spoiled ballots (retaining them in a secured ballot container), and

any issues that arise

At the end of each day:

Document the total number of voters checked in and ballots cast and verify they match

Account for all ballots spoiled and ensure the number of ballots provided less the spoiled and cast

ballots equals the number of unused ballots remaining

Seal all ballots in tamper-evident containers and transport ballots to the elections office for secure

storage

Physical Security

Election officials must

ensure early voting

locations remain secured

throughout the early voting

period—especially if

election materials will

remain in the location

overnight. Materials left at

the location should be

moved to a secured room or

equipment cart, accessible

only to necessary early

voting staff. 

May 1, 2022 v. 1.0 EAC | Helping America Vote

eac.gov clearinghouse@eac.gov @EACgov @eacgov1 @us.eac