What to do if your vote is challenged: Practical advice for midterm elections Karen Figueroa-Clewett for The Conversation Oct 26, 2026 Oct 26, 2026 Updated 1 hr ago 0 Poll workers wait for voters during early voting at Laurel Race Track October 28, 2022, in Laurel, Maryland. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI // AFP via Getty Images Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Karen Figueroa-Clewett for The Conversation kAmpD E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^E@A:4D^FD\>:5E6C>D\`aha`eQma_ae >:5E6C> 6=64E:@?Dk^2m 6?E6C E96 7:?2= DEC6E49[ :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ <?@H J@FC C:89ED :? 42D6 J@FC G@E6 :D 492==6?865]k^AmkAm%96 36DE H2J E@ 6?DFC6 E92E J@FC G@E6 :D 4@F?E65 :D E@ 25G@42E6 7@C J@FCD6=7] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m D92C6D D6G6C2= DEC2:89E7@CH2C5 H2JD E@ 6?DFC6 J@FC G@E6 :D 4@F?E65 2?5 EH@ AC24E:42= C6>65:6D E@ 4@?D:56C :7 J@FC G@E6 C6>2:?D 492==6?865[ 7C@> 2? 2EE@C?6J 2E &$r’D 4:G:= C:89ED 25G@424J :?:E:2E:G6]k^Am People are also reading… Will North Carolina have a cold, snowy winter? Here's what NOAA predicts Concord mayor orders flags lowered to honor late Cabarrus County judge Mooresville woman charged with arson, animal cruelty in Rowan County house fire Will NC State football coach Dave Doeren be fired during season? Boo Corrigan already offered hint Duke Health eyes entering Charlotte with two hospitals, exits Novant partnership Concord accepting more items in residential recycling carts High Side Golf Club breaks ground in Kannapolis; 2 short courses, night golf featured Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to host free Fall Fest and Candy Crawl on Oct. 29 More grocery stores opening in Charlotte area as competition intensifies. Here's where Salisbury VA Medical Center receives funding for infrastructure improvements Woman thrown from wagon at Lazy 5 Ranch near Mooresville dies from injuries Hiker plummets from recently reopened trail at popular Linville Falls in Blue Ridge Mountains Post Mortem Players brings Parisian horror to Concord stage Former NASCAR driver’s Lake Norman mansion with dock, 4 garages, 33.6 acres sells for $9.2 million Criticism grows over Ramaswamy attack ad featuring Amy Acton's mother kAmp >2;@C A2CE @7 6?DFC:?8 E92E J@F 2C6 23=6 E@ G@E6 :D 5@:?8 E96 ?646DD2CJ AC6A2C2E:@? 367@C6 J@F 6G6? 86E E@ E96 A@==:?8 A=246] #625 @? E@ 7:?5 @FE 9@H 2?5 H96C6 E@ C68:DE6C[ H96C6 2?5 H96? J@F 42? 42DE J@FC 32==@E[ 2?5 H92E ?F>36CD E@ 42== 7@C 2?J :?7@C>2E:@? J@F 42?’E 7:?5 @?=:?6]k^Amk9bmpC6 J@F C68:DE6C65 E@ G@E6n r964< :E @FEk^9bmkAmq67@C6 J@F G@E6[ J@F ?665 E@ 6?DFC6 E92E J@F’C6 C68:DE6C65 E@ G@E6] *@F 42? G6C:7J J@FC C68:DEC2E:@? DE2EFD FD:?8 E9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FDG@E67@F?52E:@?]@C8^2>\:\C68:DE6C65QmE@@=k^2m] x7 J@F 42?’E FD6 2? @?=:?6 E@@=[ E96? 42== J@FC =@42= 6=64E:@? @77:46 @C 2 G@E6C 96=A =:?6 =:<6 E96 @?6D =:DE65 :? E96 9@E=:?6 D64E:@? 36=@H]k^Am kAmx7 J@F 7:?5 J@F’C6 ?@E C68:DE6C65[ J@F 42? FD6 E9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?4D=]@C8^C6D62C49^6=64E:@?D\2?5\42>A2:8?D^6=64EC@?:4\@C\@?=:?6\G@E6C\C68:DEC2E:@?]2DAIR%23=6Ta_@7Ta_DE2E6DTa_H^@GCQmE@@=k^2m 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= r@?76C6?46 @7 $E2E6 {68:D=2EFC6D E@ 7:?5 J@FC DE2E6’D @?=:?6 C68:DEC2E:@? 2AA=:42E:@?] x7 J@F ?665 E@ 5@ E9:D :? A6CD@?[ E96? 42== J@FC =@42= 6=64E:@? @77:46 7@C :?DECF4E:@?D]k^AmkAmpE E9:D A@:?E[ J@F >2J 92G6 >:DD65 J@FC DE2E6’D 5625=:?6 7@C G@E6C C68:DEC2E:@?] qFE :E >2J ?@E 36 E@@ =2E6 E@ C68:DE6C]k^AmkAm|2?J DE2E6D 2==@H D2>6\52J C68:DEC2E:@? 2E E96 A@==:?8 D:E6] *@F 42? 7:?5 J@FC DE2E6’D D2>6\52J G@E6C =2HD 56E2:=65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?4D=]@C8^C6D62C49^6=64E:@?D\2?5\42>A2:8?D^D2>6\52J\C68:DEC2E:@?]2DAIQm96C6k^2m] pD< E96 A@== H@C<6C 2E E96 4@CC64E A@==:?8 =@42E:@? 7@C 2 D2>6\52J C68:DEC2E:@? 7@C>j 4@>A=6E6 E96 7@C> 2?5 E96? 2D< 7@C 2 “4@?5:E:@?2= 32==@E]” p 4@?5:E:@?2= 32==@E 2==@HD 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=D E@ 4@F?E J@FC G@E6 27E6C G6C:7J:?8 J@FC G@E6C 6=:8:3:=:EJ] x7 J@F 42?’E C6D62C49 @?=:?6[ J@F 42? 42== J@FC =@42= 6=64E:@? @77:46 E@ 7:?5 @FE :7 J@F 42? C68:DE6C @? t=64E:@? s2J]k^Am k9bmv2E96C 5@4F>6?ED E@ G6C:7J J@FC :56?E:EJk^9bmkAmx7 J@F =:G6 :? 2 DE2E6 E92E C6BF:C6D :56?E:EJ G6C:7:42E:@? E@ G@E6 :? A6CD@?[ 82E96C E96 C6BF:C65 5@4F>6?ED — H9:49 >2J C2?86 7C@> 2 5C:G6C’D =:46?D6 E@ 32?< DE2E6>6?ED H:E9 :56?E:7J:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? — 367@C6 EC2G6=:?8 E@ E96 4@CC64E A@==:?8 A=246] *@F 42? 7:?5 J@FC 4@F?EJ 6=64E:@? @77:46’D 4@?E24E :?7@C>2E:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FDG@E67@F?52E:@?]@C8^G@E6^6@55@>6DE:4]9E>Qm96C6k^2m] %9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?4D=]@C8^C6D62C49^6=64E:@?D\2?5\42>A2:8?D^G@E6C\:5]2DAIQmH63A286k^2m :?4=F56D 2 E23=6 =:DE:?8 6249 DE2E6’D 2446AE23=6 xs 5@4F>6?ED 2?5 A@DD:3=6 6I46AE:@?D 7@C D@>6 A6@A=6] *@F >2J 2=D@ 42== J@FC =@42= 6=64E:@? @77:46 E@ 7:?5 @FE H92E’D C6BF:C65]k^Am kAmp3D6?E66 G@E6CDi {@42E6 J@FC DE2E6’D :56?E:EJ G6C:7:42E:@? CF=6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@E6]@C8^G@E6C\:5\=2HD^Qm96C6k^2m]k^Am k9bmu:?5 E96 4@CC64E A@==:?8 =@42E:@?k^9bmkAm*@F 42? 6?DFC6 E92E J@F’C6 962565 E@ E96 C:89E A@==:?8 A=246 H:E9 E9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@E6]@C8^A@==:?8\A=246\=@42E@C^QmE@@=k^2m] ~C 42== J@FC 4@F?EJ 6=64E:@? @77:46 E@ 7:?5 J@FC A@==:?8 A=246 2?5 :ED 9@FCD @7 @A6C2E:@?j J@F 42? =@@< FA J@FC 4@F?EJ’D 6=64E:@? @77:46 4@?E24E :?7@C>2E:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FDG@E67@F?52E:@?]@C8^G@E6^6@55@>6DE:4]9E>Qm96C6k^2m]k^Am kAm~?46 J@F <?@H J@FC A@==:?8 A=246 2?5 :ED 9@FCD[ J@F 42? 8@ E96C6 2?5 4964< :?] x? >@DE 42D6D[ J@F’== 36 92?565 2 32==@E[ D9@H? H96C6 E@ G@E6 2?5 2D<65 E@ AFE J@FC 32==@E :? 2 >249:?6 @C 2 3@I[ 2?5 E96? J@F 42? 8@ >6CC:=J 2=@?8 J@FC H2J]k^Am kAmqFE E96 >@>6?E @7 4964<\:? :D H96C6 E9:?8D >:89E 8@ HC@?8]k^Amk9bm!C@3=6>D 2E J@FC A@==:?8 A=246k^9bm Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmw6C6 2C6 A@E6?E:2= G@E6 492==6?86D 2?5 H2JD E@ @G6C4@>6 E96>]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m!@DD:3:=:EJ }@] `i ~FE\@7\@C56C A@==:?8 >249:?6D]k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmx7 J@F’C6 2D<65 E@ =62G6 3642FD6 @7 >2=7F?4E:@?:?8 >249:?6D[ 5@?’E] x?DE625[ 2D< 7@C 2 A2A6C 32==@E]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m!@DD:3:=:EJ }@] ai *@F’C6 :? =:?6 2?5 @77:4:2=D 2??@F?46 E96 A@==D 92G6 4=@D65]k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmx7 J@F’C6 :? =:?6 2E E96 A@==:?8 =@42E:@? 367@C6 :E 4=@D6D[ 5@?’E =6E E96> EFC? J@F 2H2J 2E 4=@D:?8 E:>6 :7 J@F 92G6?’E G@E65] *@F 92G6 E96 =682= C:89E E@ G@E6 F?56C E9@D6 4:C4F>DE2?46D[ D@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@E6]@C8^6=64E:@?\AC@E64E:@?^QmDE2J :? =:?6 2?5 H2:E E@ 42DE J@FC 32==@Ek^2m]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m!@DD:3:=:EJ }@] bi *@F’C6 ?@E @? E96 C68:DE6C65 G@E6CD =:DE]k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmx7 J@F’C6 E@=5 J@F 42?’E G@E6 3642FD6 J@FC ?2>6 :D ?@E @? E96 G@E6C C@DE6C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]24=F]@C8^<?@H\J@FC\C:89ED^G@E:?8\C:89EDRH92E\2C6\>J\86?6C2=\C:89ED\@?\6=64E:@?\52JQm2D< E96 A@== D:E6 H@C<6C E@ 4964< 282:?k^2m 2?5 E@ 4964< H92E’D 42==65 E96 =:DE @7 DFAA=6>6?E2= G@E6CD] x7 E96J DE:== 42?’E 7:?5 J@FC ?2>6[ 2D< E96 A@== H@C<6C E@ G6C:7J E92E J@F’C6 2E E96 C:89E =@42E:@?]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m!@DD:3:=:EJ }@] ci $@>6@?6 4=2:>D J@F D9@F=5?’E 36 2==@H65 E@ G@E6]k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmx7 J@FC G@E:?8 6=:8:3:=:EJ C6>2:?D 492==6?865 27E6C 6?DFC:?8 J@F’C6 2E E96 C:89E A@==:?8 =@42E:@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?4D=]@C8^C6D62C49^6=64E:@?D\2?5\42>A2:8?D^AC@G:D:@?2=\32==@ED]2DAIQm2D< E@ 42DE 2 AC@G:D:@?2= 32==@Ek^2m[ H9:49 :D 2G2:=23=6 :? 6G6CJ DE2E6 6I46AE x529@ 2?5 |:??6D@E2] *@F 42? 7:?5 56E2:=D 23@FE J@FC A2CE:4F=2C DE2E6’D AC@G:D:@?2= 32==@E CF=6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?4D=]@C8^C6D62C49^6=64E:@?D\2?5\42>A2:8?D^AC@G:D:@?2=\32==@ED]2DAIQm96C6k^2m]k^Am kAm%C24< J@FC AC@G:D:@?2= 32==@E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@E6]@C8^32==@E\EC24<6C\E@@=D^Qm96C6k^2m]k^Am k9bmr2== 2 9@E=:?6k^9bmkAmx7 J@F 2C6 ?@E 8:G6? 2 AC@G:D:@?2= 32==@E[ 42== 2? 6=64E:@? 9@E=:?6 7@C 96=A] w6C6 2C6 7@FC 9@E=:?6D[ CF? 3J >6>36CD @7 E96 ?@?A2CE:D2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^gee@FCG@E6]@C8^23@FE^Qmt=64E:@? !C@E64E:@? 4@2=:E:@?k^2m[ E92E 42? 96=A J@Fik^AmkF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6h26g5c7ff2b5h2254_e3d3bg62b47bgcQmt?8=:D9i gee\~&#\'~%t^gee\egf\gegb[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2HJ6CD4@>>:EE66]@C8^AC@;64E^6=64E:@?\AC@E64E:@?^Qm{2HJ6CD’ r@>>:EE66 7@C r:G:= #:89ED &?56C {2Hk^2mk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6hbda22bf2`egfc5`hh`d_5g7b_b45hchQm$A2?:D9i ggg\'t\*\'~%p^ggg\gbh\gega[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?2=6@]@C8^6D^G@E2^Qm}2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? @7 {2E:?@ t=64E65 2?5 pAA@:?E65 ~77:4:2=D t5F42E:@? uF?5k^2mk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6fe`a3d6h`f4_63_cgcfh`a5`_`6345haQmpD:2? {2?8F286Di ggg\p!x\'~%t^ggg\afc\gegb[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A:2G@E6]@C8^9@H\E@\G@E6^>F=E:=:?8F2=\G@E6C\9@E=:?6^QmpD:2? 2?5 !24:7:4 xD=2?56C p>6C:42? '@E6k^2mk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6af4cede5f7fd4cbb7g_6`4_ae4bhegecQmpC23:4i gcc\*p{{p\&$^gcc\had\dagf[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]22:FD2]@C8^J2==2\G@E6QmpC23 p>6C:42? x?DE:EFE6k^2mk^=:mk^F=m k9bm#6A@CE G@E6C :?E:>:52E:@?k^9bmkAmx7 D@>6@?6 EC:6D E@ D42C6 J@F :?E@ G@E:?8 @C ?@E G@E:?8 7@C 2 42?5:52E6[ DE2?5 J@FC 8C@F?5 2?5 56>2?5 2 32==@E 7C@> E96 A@== D:E6[ 42== @?6 @7 E96 9@E=:?6D 23@G6 E@ C6A@CE E96 :?E:>:52E:@?[ 2?5 7:=6 2 4=2:> H:E9 E96 uqx =2E6C 3J A9@?6 2E g__\rp{{\uqx – g__\aad\dbac – @C @?=:?6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:AD]73:]8@GQmE:AD]73:]8@Gk^2m]k^Am k9bmu:=6 2 =2HDF:Ek^9bmkAmx7 J@F 2C6 DE:== 3=@4<65 7C@> G@E:?8[ 4@?D:56C =682= 24E:@? — 3FE 86E 25G:46 @? J@FC 6I24E D:EF2E:@? 7C@> @?6 @7 E96 9@E=:?6D[ H9:49 92G6 7C66 =2HJ6CD @? 92?5] xE’D 2 8@@5 :562 E@ HC:E6 5@H? E96 ?2>6D @7 A6@A=6 H9@ AC6G6?E65 J@F 7C@> G@E:?8 2?5 E@ 2D< A6@A=6 H9@ H:E?6DD65 E96 :?4:56?E 7@C E96:C 4@?E24E :?7@C>2E:@?]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H92E\E@\5@\:7\J@FC\G@E6\:D\492==6?865\AC24E:42=\25G:46\7@C\>:5E6C>\6=64E:@?D\ah_f_bQmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^Qmk6>m%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am 0 Comments Originally published on theconversation.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Criticism grows over Ramaswamy attack ad featuring Amy Acton's mother Condemnation is growing against Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy over an attack ad that featured his opponent's estrang… Trump reinvokes antisemitic slur at Kansas rally This is not the first time that Trump has used the word, deemed an antisemitic slur by the Anti-Defamation League, at a rally. Why the Ramaswamy-Acton Ohio governor race got so personal and ugly There's a line for voters when it comes to negative campaigning, and everyone will soon know whether Ramaswamy's ad crossed it. 3 issues defining the 2026 US midterm elections The outcome will hinge on a relatively small number of competitive races, but the campaigns are being shaped nationally by a few key issues. Man accused of beheading Iwo Jima statue in Virginia with sledgehammer The Battle of Iwo Jima monument in Quantico, Virginia, has suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages after a man beheaded one of th… Watch Now: Related Video Lula Wins Historic Fourth Term in Surprise Election Comeback Republicans and Democrats agree on almost nothing Republicans and Democrats agree on almost nothing Lula thanks Brazil's youth for historic election win Lula thanks Brazil's youth for historic election win Trump Asks Google CEO To Rename Atlantic Ocean On Maps Trump Asks Google CEO To Rename Atlantic Ocean On Maps
Criticism grows over Ramaswamy attack ad featuring Amy Acton's mother Condemnation is growing against Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy over an attack ad that featured his opponent's estrang…
Trump reinvokes antisemitic slur at Kansas rally This is not the first time that Trump has used the word, deemed an antisemitic slur by the Anti-Defamation League, at a rally.
Why the Ramaswamy-Acton Ohio governor race got so personal and ugly There's a line for voters when it comes to negative campaigning, and everyone will soon know whether Ramaswamy's ad crossed it.
3 issues defining the 2026 US midterm elections The outcome will hinge on a relatively small number of competitive races, but the campaigns are being shaped nationally by a few key issues.
Man accused of beheading Iwo Jima statue in Virginia with sledgehammer The Battle of Iwo Jima monument in Quantico, Virginia, has suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages after a man beheaded one of th…