Can I Change My Vote?

Last Friday, the day after the second and final presidential debate, Google Trends, a website where Google posts information about what people are searching for in real-time, began showing a spike in the search phrase “Can you change your vote.” 

In NY, Cindy Emmer, Democratic elections commissioner for the Chemung County (New York) Board of Elections, told WSKG Radio (NPR) in New York that the state allows such a change.

“Their names are scanned into the system as to who has voted, and, if you have already voted as an absentee ballot, your absentee ballot will not be counted, just your vote on the machine,” Emmer told WSKG.

New York state law says, “Even if you request or cast and return an absentee ballot, you may still go to the polls and vote in person.”

There are four other states that allow voters to change their minds once they have voted by mail.

If you have already used early voting in NY and voted in person at you local Board of Elections, you can not change that vote.

Connecticut, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin all allow voters to change their absentee vote after they have cast a ballot.

In Connecticut the laws and procedures vary from town to town. 

Check with your local Town Clerk or Board of Elections for information on how to change your vote.