Emphasizing the difficulty of pinning the cause of a higher or lower rejection rate on a single point, Adams Countys rejection rate was nearly three times higher than Larimers in both recent general elections, despite both counties using this kind of equipment. The deadline for submitting signatures is set by the state constitution at three months before the election. Different Procedures, Different Populations, Different Outcomes. National Voter Outreach Read more about our new commenting system here. Voters have up to eight days after election day to make this happen; I happened to vote right before election day. Making a voter cure their own ballot means theyll have to sign their name again, so signatures rejected because there are very few past examples will have a couple more examples in the system once they respond. In Colorado, the number of signatures required for a successful petition is equal to 5 percent of the total number of votes cast for the office of Colorado Secretary of State in the preceding general election. For example, in jurisdictions where a witnessed will is possible, a witness can be someone who knows the testator for a certain period of time, it can be an attorney, notary, or a notary public. Perl said the county has doubled the number of signature verification judges from 30 to 60 this year, with two shifts of workers to allow for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Then follow these steps: Click on the link you receive in reply. Diane Bernard from Virginia News Connection has more. In Denver, voter signatures are first verified through software that matches with existing records. And thats the amount after about half of the countys rejected ballots are cured, as Neel said. It just goes to election records., This story was produced with support from a grant from the American Press Institute., Special to The Colorado Sun Colorado has the lowest signature rejection rate of any state that has vote-by-mail for all, and Colorados average signature verification rejection rates have gone down each election, a statement from the Secretarys office said. Ballots must arrive at a vote center or county clerks office by 7 p.m. Nov. 3. In some situations, legal documents (such as contracts and wills) must be signed in front of a third-party witness. For one thing, its better to be safe than sorry. stories. The Secretary of States Office has a 20-page manual on signature verification with illustrations on what to look for. See MN's vote early by mail page for more details. Help expand Ballotpedia's elections coverage - volunteer with us. She doesnt recall getting a notice that it was rejected. About 80% response rate from their letters, so I guess I need to get more tough, make my letter more intimidating, Weld Clerk Koppes said with a chuckle. This is an explainer to help you avoid the mistakes I have made. At last, physicists unravel a jazz mystery, Authorities don't know who is shooting free-roaming horses in the Utah desert, VIDEO: How Colorado's Voting Systems Ensure Your Ballot Is Secure And Counted Accurately. A lack of a witness signature or other witness information has emerged as the leading cause of ballots being set aside before being counted in North Carolina, with problems disproportionately. In the case of the flip-flopped ballot, as long as both have been submitted, judges will catch the mistake and cure both ballots. However, within those guidelines, there is room for counties to do things differently. In this scenario, the witness already knows you so was able to make a positive identification of your identity as a signing party. Ballot measures, Who represents me? Signer Democracy Direct In the rare instance that a ballot is rejected because of an unverified signature, theres still a chance for voters to correct the issue and get their ballots counted. Elections were held for Colorado secretary of state in 2022. State statutes, however, set a deadline of three months and three weeks before the election. And if you really cannot sign your name, you can put a mark, like an X, on the signature line if you have a witness sign in the appropriate box below. The Colorado News Collaborative and its members, including The Denver Post, want to answer those questions. Yes, it will count. With national concern about the veracity of mail-in ballots, Colorado has become a focal point. Colorado Secretary of State | 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver CO 80290 | 303-894-2200 Terms & conditions | Browser compatibility Terms & conditions | Browser compatibility If someone votes in person and by mail, county clerks are required to provide that information to the district attorney or state attorney general for prosecution. Federal courts | KUNC came to a similar finding after looking at data from Colorados northernmost 24 counties and comparing three counties signature verification policies and procedures through interviews and publicly available documents. A two-month Colorado Public Radio investigation looked into the states rejected ballots. And one thing we know, if we learned anything over the years, humans are much less reliable than machinery.. The Salvation Army will look for long-term housing for them all. Hello Nation! Enjoy! Find out how to contact yours here. In short: The signatures required on the outside of the envelope used to return your mail ballot confirm that the right voter filled out the ballot. A Colorado library is closed after meth contamination. Become a member and be a better Denverite every day. Colorado features initiatives during both even- and odd-numbered year elections. Today we look at how we vote. A statute passed in 2009 said the deadline was July 12, but some sources said that this statute conflicted with the Colorado Constitution and that the deadline was actually August 2. County clerks automatically will begin mailing ballots to active registered voters on Oct. 9. The envelope colors dont identify individual voters OR their party affiliation. Counties | Combined, those ballots make up barely over half of the ballots that went uncounted in Weld County alone during 2016s general election. It certainly does a great job, but the human eyes on it are the second layer, so I'm very very happy with what Agilis (the brand name of the machine used) does, she said. Deputy Clerk and Elections Director Rene Loy-Maas said less than 1% of ballots end up having signatures questioned. This includes directly interviewing sources and research / analysis of primary source documents. She said she really wishes more people would cure their ballots. Discovery Petition Management The county clerk is required to verify the witness's signature. A federal judge granted an injunction against the law, and at least one initiative sponsor received a letter from the Colorado Secretary of State putting the deadline on August 2. And weve got no indication that that is erroneous in some way, like too successful or not successful enough, said Larimer County Clerk Angela Myers. Ive seen smiley faces, he said. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. In 2017, Weld County successfully prosecuted a former chairman of the state Republican party for signing his ex-wifes ballot. However, there are instances where a third-party witness may be asked to sign a document such as when the parties have contractually agreed to that or when the law imposes the witnessing requirement. And research in other states has found a link between high rates of mail ballot signature rejection among communities of color. When you cast your ballot, be it in person, through the mail or into a dropbox, the envelope bearing your votes and signature enters a streamlined system at Denver Election headquarters at 14th Avenue and Bannock Street. But some remain skeptical, Gov. LAMM Political Partners, LLC In the rare instance that a ballot is rejected because of an unverified signature, theres still a chance for voters to correct the issue and get their ballots counted. City workers say they're super proud of their work, and people have noticed. [1] DISCLAIMER. Bader & Associates, Inc. Clubb said there are occasionally cases where someone gets a letter about a bad signature and responds that they didnt write it. However, for candidates, filing fees are sometimes required or accepted in lieu of signatures. With my C, do I make it a big C? KUNCs analysis of EAVS data found that Adams County has the highest rejection rate in the last two general elections of the northern 24 counties and is one of only three counties in the region with rates above 1%. One of the biggest differences is the use of machines to check all the signatures first. Petitions can be circulated for no more than 60 days. Under current law, if an eligible elector is unable to sign a mail ballot issued to the elector, the elector may provide the self-affirmation required to cast the ballot by making a mark on the self-affirmation, with or without assistance, witnessed by another registered elector (witness). Theyre matched most often by a bipartisan team of two election judges, and if theres a problem, the voter has a chance to fix it. To protect the signing party, the law will require a neutral third party to witness the legal document. Denver Central Library is closing for two weeks, Three-plus miles of Broadway, Welton will go car-free for ciclova on four Sundays this year, Denvers Pay as you throw trash policy starts now. . They are under 24-hour video surveillance and are emptied every day by a team of bipartisan election judges. Sharing our About page with your own personal comments could really help us out. Small plows will come to your street, the city says. But voters also may go to a voting center and present an ID to correct their signature issues. Fraudulent signature Hickenlooper couldn't do it in 10. Volunteers text their address to the same number to offer to help be a witness. 2015 deadlines Some large counties in Colorado actually use special software connected to their ballot processing machines to make an initial comparison and acceptance of signatures on ballot envelopes. If it has been mailed and you havent received it, contact your county clerks office and ask. The bill requires the envelope used for the ballot's return to show a place for the witness to list the witness's voter identification number, and the witness is required to write the witness's voter identification number on the return envelope. You may vote there in person starting then through 7 p.m. Election Day with some limited weekend hours. If you dont cure your ballot? Do they have a slant to the left? I dont think they understand how our signature verification works, said Crane, who noted a ballot isnt rejected for signature mismatch on the envelope unless it first goes through multiple checks, and then a bipartisan team of judges has to sign off on the rejection. What will it take to clean it? Federal courts | How to vote | If the witness does not know you, its important that they make a positive identification of who you are as the signing party. Typically, a voters signature on a ballot envelope is compared against the most recent signaturethe state has on file in its database. If it's not used in this election, she said, then it likely will be in the next. How Colorado executes its signature-match requirement for ballots disenfranchises many voters, a lawsuit claims, CPR Classical Presents: Mozart and Now with Peter Oundjian, Indie 102.3s January Local 303 Meetup: feat. Typically, a voters signature on a ballot envelope is compared against one the most recent signature state has on file in its database. State and local courts | With national concern about the veracity of mail-in ballots, Colorado has become a focal point. Affirm you returned your ballot. In Colorado, few ballots less than 1% are rejected because of signature discrepancies. I specialize in law, business, marketing, and technology (and love it!). The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state our community can better understand itself. READ MORE: How Colorado's Voting Systems Ensure Your Ballot Is Secure And Counted Accurately. A recent nationwide mailer from the U.S. Enter the voter ID number on the notice you receive. A witness must be registered in the same county in which the elector completing the self-affirmation is registered. However, if the judges are wrong and the signature did actually belong to the right voter, that doesnt mean their right to vote has been canceled. Colorado weather: Winter storm warning issued for metro Denver, northeast plains ahead of "significant" storm, Denver metro area school closures for Jan. 18, 2023, Colorado weather: Heavy winter storm could hit at the end of Tuesday's commute, residents encouraged to stay put tomorrow, Lone Tree shelter-in-place order lifted after SWAT finds body while serving eviction, Flight cancellations begin at DIA as winter storm approaches. Its what county election officials use to determine whether it counts or gets rejected. All counties use a team of two election judges to determine whether a signature should be rejected. So theres more going on than a lost vote. State legislature | Although Ms. Ireton acknowledges that her signatures may have some natural variations because she often signs things quickly, reads the lawsuit. A voter is considered inactive if their county clerk receives returned mail to them marked undeliverable.. You may mail your ballot back, if theres enough time for it to arrive. And the machine is only used when processing early mail-in ballots, Perl said. North Carolina One notary public or two witnesses must be in your presence when you mark your absentee ballot. It's going to end the world,' she said. Twitter: @fishnette Colorado voting and mail-in ballots: Frequently, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Colorado weather: Heavy winter storm could hit at the end of Tuesdays commute, residents encouraged to stay put tomorrow, Colorado voting and mail-in ballots: Frequently asked questions, Attorney General Phil Weiser told the Denver Post, county clerks are required to provide that information. They make the final call on whether the ballot should actually go through or not. SB21-010: Colorado Ballot Signature Verification Act. And Alabama requires. Our citizen volume, our population is growing over time, right? she said, explaining why the county decided to get the processing equipment. They are required to take only a single election judge class prior to each election.. Signature verification is a crucial protection against fraud in an all-mail ballot system. Finally, judges choices are legally required to be periodically audited to check for irregularities, Koppes said. I think the benefits outweigh any perceived detriments.. I really did. The EAVS data on rejected ballots is only representative of the ballots that still were uncured eight days after the election. Thats one good way to get a new signature into the system. Weld Clerk Koppes shared a similar sentiment, adding that her office tries to pair new judges with old ones in training to mitigate the possibility of nerves taking over their decision-making. And that's why it is always important for us to have those veteran judges that have overcome that fear.. If a ballot remains uncured, its sent to the County District Attorney, who will try to get a response from the ballots owners. Its Time to Vote! Registered voter The reason that is the case is that the family member may not be a neutral third party and may have a direct or indirect interest in the legal document being signed. Its evidence now, in case Im a fraudster they might need to build a case against. If they find the machine approved that signature incorrectly, the county must stop using it. What happens if Broncos, Sean Payton find common ground in Tuesday interview? Matt Crane, the executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said they are always trying to refine the system, especially for disabled voters. 15 As we'll explore later, certain groups of voters are more likely to have their mail ballot rejected than others, including first-time . For this and all future elections, the Secretary of State has set up a statewide online ballot tracking and notification system called BallotTrax, through which voters can request text, phone and email updates about their ballots status from when its on its way to their mailbox to the moment its logged as being counted (or rejected). Signer intent The form or letter must be filed no earlier than January 1 and no later than the sixty- While Colorados voting system is regularly touted as the gold standard, a CPR News investigation found that between 2016 and October 2020, more than 100,000 ballots were rejected by county clerks, most often because signatures on the envelope didnt match those on file. This is voter fraud caught before it could impact an election. This will be the end at least, for now of one of the few Black-owned taprooms in the city. Any rejected ballot is referred to as being uncured.. CPRs investigation identified these machines as a possible factor in higher rejection rates. He said less than one percent of ballots actually end up going to the DAs office. County clerks and their election teams are responsible for making sure ballots get counted in November. ; Most legal documents do not require a witness signature. A signature match is when the signature on the voter's ballot is compared to that on the citizen's voter registration record, a provisional ballot, or an affidavit. (In) my name, Carly, do I stop at any point and lift up my pen and finish how I sign? she said. You do have cases where the witnesses do not necessarily know all parties. To get a sense of how it works, we talked to some county clerks and the Secretary of States Office about the process for signature verification. In this article, we will break down the legal definition of Witness Signature so you know all there is to know about it! Heres what the Denver Elections office says: A change of address on your voter registration may impact what your ballot looks like on the local level. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, but registered voters in Colorado began receiving mail-in ballots after Oct. 9. Clubb blames this on adulting. Under federal law, clerks must wait two general election cycles before removing inactive voters from the database. Petitioners have six months to circulate signature petitions. What's on my ballot? If you get a notice that your signature has been rejected, you may text the word "Colorado" to 2VOTE (28638). Valid signature Nearly half of Colorado voters are not signed up for the ballot tracking system, and may not get a timely notice that their vote was rejected, according to the lawsuit: For example, one Colorado voter reported in 2016 that her general election ballot was wrongly flagged for a signature mismatch, and she was not informed until a campaign volunteer knocked on her door almost a week after Election Day.. 2012 deadlines The signature match requirement is meant to prevent voter fraud, since mail or at-home voting takes place away from a polling site. Colorado will open about 330 vote centers beginning Oct. 19. [3]. The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported, nonpartisan news organization dedicated to covering Colorado issues. Its up to the judges to determine whether the signatures match and thats the model Colorado is based on, Neel said, responding to a KUNC question about whether she thought Summits rejection rate was fine or needed to be reduced. State executives | But Clubb said he tells judges not to worry too much if they feel they need to reject a ballot. Volunteer circulator This article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). Typically and in most jurisdictions, the law requires that the witness be physically present when he or she is observing the signing party execute the document. Likely will be in the same county in which the elector completing the self-affirmation is.... Bipartisan election judges against one the most recent signaturethe state has on file in its database in other has..., contact your county clerks and their election teams are responsible for making ballots. Voters have up to eight days after the election one thing we,! To look for ( and love it! ) is required to verify the witness already you... Video surveillance and are emptied every day must arrive at a vote or. Ballots after Oct. 9 to active registered voters on Oct. 9 said he tells not... 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