In the weeks before the Nov. 5 presidential election, Google Trends data showed a spike in searches about provisional ballots. A provisional ballot is a way for states to ensure all voters are given a chance to cast a ballot even if their eligibility to ...

Last week, a flurry of litigation in Pennsylvania clarified the rules for mail balloting there. In short, mail ballots will still be rejected in the key battleground state if voters fail to properly date the affidavit that accompanies their ballot — but voters who make any mistake with their mail ballot will be able to vote by provisional ballot instead on Election Day.