Among the many points of uncertainty in the 2020 election, none has created a great sense of unease than our current president’s insistence that mail-in ballots are prone to fraud. Never mind that Trump has made these assertions without citing any evidence, or that extensive investigations, like this one by Frontline, Columbia Journalism Investigations and the USA Today Network, have found such claims unsupported by the fact; it’s deeply troubling that Trump has basically told us that he won’t commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he’s voted out of office.
Regardless of where your political affiliation lies, you may be concerned—or at least curious—about what happens to your ballot after you mail it in. As it turns out, you don’t have to wonder, because it’s possible to check on your ballot. Here’s how to do that.
How to track your mail-in ballot
Before you mail in or drop off your ballot, make sure to take note of its tracking number (write it down, email it to yourself, take a photo of it, etc). Every state is different and can use its own tracking service, but any that use the USPS will require a tracking number to check in on your ballot, CNET reports. Some states—like Wyoming and Mississippi—make you call your county clerk’s office to get tracking information on your ballot.
Fortunately, the good people at CNET compiled this list of instructions for tracking your ballot in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
And while you’re visiting your state’s site, also take note of what you should do if there appear to be any issues with your ballot. If there aren’t specific instructions or if you’re unable to track yours down, contact the Secretary of State’s office, or whichever department provides information about voting.