The ballot cure deadline in Florida arrives today, giving voters whose ballots were flagged until 5 p.m. local time Thursday to fix the problem or risk having the ballot rejected, according to the Florida Department of State’s 2026 election results reporting timeline. Curing a ballot means correcting a defect, such as a missing or mismatched signature on a mail ballot, or showing proof of identity for a provisional ballot, which is the ballot a voter casts when an election worker cannot immediately confirm their eligibility. The Department of State lists one deadline for both kinds of ballots, so voters who think their ballot was flagged can ask their county supervisor of elections whether anything is still needed.
Florida’s calendar after today is tight. The Department of State timeline says unofficial results are due by noon Saturday, Nov. 7. If those returns come close enough in any race to trigger a machine recount, a second set of unofficial returns is due by 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. County official returns, which include any manual recount results and overseas ballots returned within 10 days, are due by noon Monday, Nov. 16. The state Elections Canvassing Commission is scheduled to certify the results by 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17. Certification is the official step that confirms the count is final.
Texas runs on a different clock. According to Election Advisory 2026-28 from the Texas secretary of state’s office, voters can correct certain defects on mail ballot carrier envelopes in person at the early voting clerk’s office through Monday, Nov. 9. That is also the last day for military and overseas ballots to arrive. Local early voting ballot boards must finish counting provisional, late arriving, overseas and cured ballots by Monday, Nov. 16. Counties can hold their local canvass, the formal review of the vote count, anytime from Friday, Nov. 6 through Tuesday, Nov. 17. The statewide canvass for statewide, federal and district races can happen no earlier than Saturday, Nov. 21 and no later than Monday, Dec. 7.
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In North Carolina, the Carolina Journal reported that the State Board of Elections is scheduled to certify results on Nov. 24. That date matters for the photo ID amendment and two tax amendments voters approved Tuesday, which take effect once the board certifies them.
Results reported so far, including projections by news outlets, are unofficial until each state certifies them. Voters with questions about a specific ballot can confirm its status with the Florida Division of Elections, their county supervisor of elections, the Texas secretary of state’s office or their county elections office.
