11.07. Matchbacks and Challenges from 2012, 2013 and 2014 General Elections: "Curing" your invalid signature ballot

Below I have included 2012,2013, and 2014 (to date) General Election Challenge number summaries. To date:

• 2012 711
• 2013 634
• 2014 1118

Some instructive text from Election Desk Administrator Jesse Smiley is included below the yearly Challenge summaries. If you are one of this year's 811 voters who have their ballot challenged on the basis of signature ("No Signature","No Signature Match","Wrong Voter's Signature"), then you should receive a letter giving you the chance to "cure" your ballot sometime before the  11/24/2014 Canvas Board certification. I am working on a web database where you can check if you are one of these.

2012

count(MBacc_status,"AVReturnStatus")
  AVReturnStatus freq
1     Challenged  711
count(MBacc_status,"AVReturnChallenge")
        AVReturnChallenge freq
1             ID Required    3
2               No Ballot    6
3            No Signature   55
4      No Signature Match  314
5       Power of Attorney    2
6  Second Ballot Received    1
7                Too Late  326
8 Wrong Voter's Signature    4

2013

count(MBacc_status,"AVReturnStatus")

  AVReturnStatus freq

1     Challenged  634

count(MBacc_status,"AVReturnChallenge")

        AVReturnChallenge freq

1             ID Required   10

2               No Ballot    7

3            No Signature   56

4      No Signature Match  413

5       Power of Attorney    2

6                Too Late  135

7 Wrong Voter's Signature    6

8            Z - Deceased    2

9               Z - Other    3

2014 (includes Good and Undeliverable)

count(MBacc_status,"AVReturnStatus")
  AVReturnStatus  freq
1     Challenged  1118
2           Good 75525
3  Undeliverable  2297
 count(MBacc_status,"AVReturnChallenge")
         AVReturnChallenge  freq
1                          75525
2               Electronic    14
3              ID Required    13
4                No Ballot     5
5             No Signature   162
6       No Signature Match   587
7        Power of Attorney     1
8   Second Ballot Received     9
9                 Too Late   263
10           Undeliverable  2297
11 Wrong Voter's Signature    62
12            Z - Deceased     1
13               Z - Other     1

[Informative text below from Election Desk Administrator Jesse Smiley]:

We mail letters to voters who have been challenged for: 

-Electronic (which means they returned their ballot via email when they are not flagged as being in the Military or Overseas – so they are not currently permitted to return their ballot via email)

-No Signature – the signature they return on the challenge letter must match the signature on file

-No Signature Match – the signature on the challenge letter must match the signature on the ballot envelope (we assume this is their updated signature)

-Wrong Voter’s Signature – the voter is given a chance to vote another ballot by 8:00pm Election night

-POA – the signature on the challenge letter must match the signature on file OR (more often) the voter returns the letter with their mark and the signatures of two witnesses The voters challenged for ID required means we have not been able to verify their identity (typically through their social security number).  These voters are sent a letter with their ballot asking them to provide some other form of ID.  When we get these ballots back we research the voter to see if we can verify their ID. 

Any other challenged ballots or any of the above that have not been cured are reviewed by the Canvassing Board and they determine which ones will be accepted or rejected. The Canvassing Board Meetings are public meetings so if you’d like to learn more you are welcome to attend. The challenged voters have until 11/24 to respond to our letter.  The Canvassing Board will meet on 11/24 at 3:00pm to certify the election so any responses must be received by then.