Getting your ballot dumped in a ditch is actually the least likely way to have it not counted. You need to follow these steps to make sure your mail in vote is counted.

When you open your ballot, there will be a sheet of directions. Be sure to follow them exactly. Use the sheet itself as a checklist to make sure you do everything 100% accurately.

. Re-read the directions repeatedly as needed. Do not make assumptions. Do they want you to fill in the entire box or make an X in it? If you make an X rather than fill in the entire box, your ballot could be disallowed.

Be careful with signatures

The signature lines are EXTREMELY important: Probably even more important than marking your choices correctly are the signature lines. You will probably need to sign both the inner and outer envelopes. Again, be sure to refer to your directions sheet for every step.

Before you sign, take a look at the signature on your driver’s license or state issued ID card. Many states compare the signature on your ballot to the one on your driver’s license. Make sure you keep the one on your ballot looking like the one on your driver’s license. You might have been in a hurry at the DMV so it is worth it to take a look at your license to see if you did anything you don’t ordinary do when you signed it.

Find a Secure Drop Box or Mail In Location

If you have any doubt about the security of your ballot for any reason, find the most secure drop off place in your location. In my county there was an official drop box that was tamper-proof, located directly outside of the place people were going for early voting. I felt as secure putting that ballot in that box as if I was inside the polling place-and you can too, by following these directions.

And Finally….Return the Ballot ASAP

If you have that ballot in your possession, put it in the mailbox or ballot drop box right now, TODAY. There is one potential catastrophe that we can avert in 2020: a contested election. We can do this by voting early if we are using mail-in ballots. Also, in-person early voting is excellent, as it means you are not dependent on the circumstances of one day-election day- in order to vote as you may have been in the past.

As of Saturday night, October 31, there are still a fair amount of ballots that have not been returned, even in swing states. At this point, make sure you hand deliver your ballot.