What to do if poll workers say you aren’t registered to vote

( NewsNation ) – Turnout has been surging in early voting , with vote counts reportedly exceeding the numbers collected during the same period in the last midterm election cycle.

But what happens if you head to the polls and you’re told you aren’t registered to vote?

Whether you vote early or on Election Day , here’s what to do if you’re told you aren’t eligible to vote.

Check your registration status online before you go to vote and make sure you have the correct address for your polling place.

If you have recently moved, your registration may still reflect your old address. Ask a poll worker if you can update your registration on site and vote, or if you’ll need to go to your old polling place to cast a ballot.

Election laws vary by state, but 25 states and the District of Columbia offer some form of same-day registration .

Ask a poll worker how to register. You may be able to do so at the polling place or you may need to go to a specific location if you need to register.

You will also need to have proof of identification and residency to register, even if your state does not have voter ID laws for voting. Typically, that will include a photo ID and something like a piece of mail showing your current address.

The Election Protection Hotline operated by Vote.gov can be reached at 1-866-687-8683 and is staffed with volunteers to help voters.

If you have confirmed your registration and polling place are correct, have a form of ID accepted by your state (if required) and are still being denied a ballot, you can call the hotline for help.

You can also call your local election office for assistance.

If you believe you are registered to vote, you can request a provisional ballot . Unlike a regular ballot, these ballots are not automatically counted.

Election officials only count provisional ballots if they later verify that you meet all the requirements to vote. You should get instructions with a provisional ballot, telling you what you’ll need to do to make sure your vote is counted.

You can also track your provisional ballot to determine whether it was processed.