Ballot Signature Verification

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VBM BALLOT SIGNATURE VERIFICATION PROCEDURES

ALAMEDA COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

Cal. Elec. Code § 3019(d)(1)(A)

Except as provided in subparagraph (E), on or before the next business day after a determination pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) that a voter’s signature does not compare pursuant to subdivision (c), but not later than the applicable notification deadline after the election, the elections official shall send by first-class mail notice to the voter of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the applicable receipt deadline after the election. The notice shall include a return envelope, with postage paid, for the voter to return a signature verification statement.

 

Cal. Elec. Code § 3019(j)

(1) For a regularly scheduled statewide election, “applicable notification deadline” means 14 calendar days after the election and “applicable receipt deadline” means 22 calendar days after the election.

(2) For an election that is not a regularly scheduled statewide election, “applicable notification deadline” means eight calendar days before certification of the election and “applicable receipt deadline” means two calendar days before certification of the election.

 

CHALLENGE CODE DESCRIPTION PROCEDURE
No Voter Signature VBM returned with no signature
  1. Check voter did not sign elsewhere on the envelope.
  2. Apply challenge code to file.
  3. Send Signature Verification Statement to voters.
Non-Matching Signature Signature on VBM does not match signature on file
  1. Research for additional signatures on the voter's file
  2. Apply challenge code to file.
  3. Send Signature Verification Statement to voter.
Wrong Signer Signature on VBM is signed by a different person
  1. Research voters residing at same address whose VBM ballot was issued and returned.

Scenario A - Household Members Switched Envelopes

All switched VBMs are valid if all envelopes are returned and signatures all match.

Scenario B - VBM Signed by Wrong Person

VBM is invalid if no household match is found and returned.

  1. Apply challenge code for Scenario B.
  2. Send Signature Verification Statement to Voter.
Duplicate Ballot Multiple ballots issued to voter
  1. Check more than one ballot was issued to the voter.
  2. Credit the ballot that was received first.
  3. Apply challenge code to all other ballots.
Ballot Was Not Received On Time VBM Returned with a postmark date after the Election Day
  1. Verify VBM was postmarked after Election Day
  2. Apply challenge code to file.

* Signature Verification Statement letters are sent and processed daily. Once the voter submits the completed statement with a signature that compares to the one on the voter file, the challenge is removed and the VBM is cured.

* Before a ballot is officially challenged, a higher level of verification is required.

 

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