When you sit down to fill out your mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election (we have a guide for that, have you heard?), you may notice something curious on your ballot envelope.

There are holes in it. Two small holes next to the signature line, and one on the other side.

What’s the deal?

This is a question an LAist reader asked our Voter Game Plan team:

Why does my ballot envelope have holes?

It turns out the envelope holes have two functions. First, the holes next to the signature line are supposed to help visually impaired people find the signature line so that they can sign their ballot in private before submitting it.

Second, when election workers start processing ballots to be counted, the holes help them confirm that the envelopes don’t still have ballots left inside.

These holes have been part of the envelope design for many election cycles now. California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber said the state doesn’t print or approve ballot envelopes — that’s up to individual counties. But Weber does encourage counties to follow design guidance from the nonprofit Center for Civic Design.

Rest assured, the holes in your ballot envelope are not meant for anybody to be able to see your votes inside. Even if you try to make your vote visible, the holes just don’t line up.