Ballot Signature Verification. Before processing an election ballot, a county canvassing board, or its designated representatives, must examine the signature on the ballot declaration. All election workers assigned to verify signatures must receive training on statewide standards for signature verification. Election workers must verify the voter's signature on the ballot declaration is the same as the signature of that voter in the registration files of the county. Verification may be conducted by an automated verification system approved by the Secretary of State.
If a signature on a ballot declaration is not the same as the signature on the registration file because the name is different, the ballot may be counted as long as the handwriting is clearly the same. The auditor must send the voter a change-of-name form and direct the voter to complete the form.
If the signature on a ballot declaration is not the same as the signature on the registration file because the voter used initials or a common nickname, the ballot may be counted as long as the surname and handwriting are clearly the same.
Ballot Curing. If a voter neglects to sign a ballot declaration or the voter's signature does not match the signature on their registration file the county auditor must notify the voter by first-class mail and advise the voter of the correct procedures for completing the unsigned declaration or updating their signature on the voter registration file.
If the ballot is received within three business days of the final meeting of the canvassing board, or the voter has been notified by first-class mail and has not responded at least three business days before the meeting, then the auditor must attempt to notify the voter by telephone.
A record must be kept of all ballots with missing and mismatched signatures, containing the date on which the voter was contacted or the notice was mailed, as well as the date on which the voter submitted updated information.
Survey of Ballot Rejection Rates. Every odd-numbered year the Secretary of State must conduct and publish a statewide survey of voted ballot rejection rates and the reasons for those rejections by county auditors and canvassing boards. The survey must include an analysis of current practices by county auditors and canvassing boards in the acceptance and rejection of ballots, and include recommendations for improvements to minimize rejections, with a goal of statewide standardization.
Ballot Declarations. Ballot declarations must clearly inform the voter it is illegal to vote if they are not a United States citizen, serving a prison sentence for a felony conviction, or casting a ballot or signing a ballot declaration on behalf of another voter. Voters must swear under penalty of perjury they meet the qualifications to vote and have not voted in any other jurisdiction for that election. The ballot materials must provide space for the voter to sign the declaration, indicate the date on which the ballot was voted, and include a telephone number.
Ballot Curing Procedures. If a voter neglects to sign a ballot declaration, or the voter's signature does match the signature on the registration file, the county auditor must notify the voter by first-class mail and, if the auditor has a telephone number or email address on file for a voter, by phone, text message, or email, and notify the voter their ballot is unsigned or the signature does not match and advise them of the correct procedures for completing the unsigned declaration or updating their signature on the voter registration file.
If the voter has been notified by first-class mail and has not responded at least five business days before the final meeting of the canvassing board, then the county auditor must attempt to notify the voter by phone, text, or email.
If the auditor calls a voter and the voter does not answer, the auditor must leave a voice mail message, if voice mail is available.
Electronic Signature Verification. A county auditor who provides electronic means for submission of a ballot declaration signature must establish appropriate privacy and security protocols that ensure the information transmitted is received directly and securely by the auditor and is only used for verifying the signature on the voter's ballot.
Updated Signatures. After certification of election results, county auditors are encouraged to contact each registered voter to obtain an updated signature for the voter's registration file. Failure to respond to contact from the auditor does not impact the voter's registration status and any contact must clearly state the voter is not required to provide an updated signature and that providing an updated signature is not a requirement to vote in any future election.
Signature Verification Standards. The Secretary of State must:
All training materials for canvassing review board members and election staff on the statewide standards for signature verification must be available to the public.
The county auditor must publish on its website the names of all canvassing board members who received training on statewide standards for signature verification and the dates on which the training was completed.
Ballot Curing Forms. The Secretary of State must design forms for voters to use in completing incomplete ballot declarations and forms to be used by voters in updating a voter's signature in the county's registration files in the various languages required of state agencies. The forms must include the oath and warning language used on voter registration forms. Each county auditor must provide these forms on the auditor's website and in the auditor's office.
Community Outreach Plans. Each county auditor must develop a community outreach plan to educate voters about signature verification requirements and the importance of ballot signatures matching signatures in voter registration files. The outreach plan must include materials for publication on the county auditor's website and distribution in communities throughout the county that clearly explain signature verification requirements and the process of updating signatures in voter registration files or curing challenged ballots.
Materials prepared under the outreach plan should be written clearly and in plain language. Materials must be produced in all languages required of state agencies. Materials prepared as part of the outreach plan should be informed by the data collected in the Secretary of State's survey of ballot rejection rates and should target groups with higher rates of ballot rejection. The Secretary of State may assist the preparation of materials for a county's outreach plan, including coordinating between multiple counties and providing information about state requirements.
County auditors are encouraged to establish partnerships with trusted community organizations as part of the community outreach plan to maximize resources.
Ballot Declarations. Ballot declarations must clearly inform the voter the signature on the declaration will be compared to the signature in the voter's registration file.
Canvassing Board Meetings. County canvassing board meetings must be conducted at times and locations accessible to the public to ensure the public is informed and able to attend or observe. The time and location of meetings must be published in libraries, other community locations throughout the county, and on the county's website.
Voter Registration Applications. The Secretary of State is encouraged to provide applications for voter registration with multiple signature blocks to assist in comparing signatures on ballot declarations.
Ballot Envelope Design Work Group. A work group is established to approve a uniform ballot envelope design to be used by all counties in each election beginning with the 2026 primary election.
The work group must be chaired by the Secretary of State, or the secretary's designee, and include, at a minimum, the following members appointed by the Secretary of State:
PRO: It is distressing that younger voters and people of color are more likely to experience higher rates of ballot rejection. The goal of this bill is to reduce ballot rejection. The bill creates opportunity for voter education and provides support and guidance for county election offices and workers. Registering and encouraging voters is highly important and each rejected ballot is a voice going unheard. The bill provides more accessibility and community education, particularly for those with high rates of rejection. Allowing voters to rectify issues with their ballot is good policy. This bill paves the way for a more inclusive and effective election system.
OTHER: This bill seems reasonable and it's good that it makes elections more accessible but it feels like this is moving away from voter education and instead reducing the standards in place to reject bad ballots.