In Honolulu, Joshua Kamalo, like many Maui voters, believed that the presidential race was not the only important contest on the November ballot. He was also closely following a fiercely contested seat on the local governing board. Kamalo took care to return his ballot early in the state, which primarily votes by mail, submitting it two weeks prior to Election Day. However, a week later, he received a letter informing him that the county could not verify his signature on the return envelope, potentially jeopardizing his vote. This issue was not unique to Kamalo, as two colleagues at the biodiesel company where he worked and even his daughter had their ballots rejected for similar reasons – the county claimed that their signatures did not match those on file.
Frustrated by the situation, Kamalo, a truck driver, made the effort to navigate traffic congestion and limited parking to reach the county office and sign an affidavit confirming that the signature was indeed his own. He admitted that he might not have bothered to rectify the issue if the local council race in South Maui hadn’t been so tight, with the co-founder of his company ultimately losing the election.
Kamalo’s experience reflects a broader challenge faced as mail voting becomes more popular and states increasingly opt for widespread mail ballot distribution. The process of verifying signatures on returned mail ballot envelopes against official records can be cumbersome, sometimes conducted manually and other times through automation, leading to the rejection of numerous ballots. If voters are unable to rectify signature discrepancies promptly, their ballots may not be counted.
Larry Norden, an expert in elections and government at the Brennan Center for Justice, highlighted the importance of states and local governments implementing procedures to prevent the disenfranchisement of large numbers of eligible mail ballot voters. The proliferation of mail ballots in 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw eight states and the District of Columbia adopt universal mail voting, sending ballots to all active registered voters unless they choose to opt out.
While at least 30 states require election officials to notify voters of mail ballot issues and provide an opportunity for correction, some argue that the timeframe for doing so is insufficient. Nevada, a pivotal state in the presidential race, distributed ballots to all registered voters in November. However, approximately 9,000 mail ballots were rejected by county election offices primarily due to signature discrepancies. Though this did not impact the presidential outcome, it could have influenced down-ballot races, such as certain state legislative seats and the North Las Vegas City Council race in Clark County, which were decided by narrow margins.
Sondra Cosgrove, a history professor at the College of Southern Nevada and executive director of Vote Nevada, described the ongoing signature curing issues in Nevada as a worsening crisis that demands prompt attention.
“The potential for signature match issues to impact tight races has prompted some voting rights organizations in the state to advocate for a revamp of the verification system. Christian Solomon, the state director of Rise Nevada, a youth-led civic engagement group, emphasized the need for a more accessible option that ensures timely vote counting, highlighting the significant impact a handful of votes can have.
Nevada voters took a step towards a potential solution in November by approving a constitutional amendment with a 73% majority. This amendment will mandate voters to present identification, such as a driver’s license or Social Security number, in addition to their signature when voting by mail. The amendment requires approval for a second time in two years to take effect.
Inspired by a 2021 law in Georgia, Dave Gibbs, president of Repair the Vote PAC, proposed the amendment to replace signature checks with ID requirements for mailed ballots. Georgia now requires voters to provide their driver’s license or state ID number for mailed ballots, according to Mike Hassinger from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
Critics argue that implementing such ID requirements could be burdensome in states like Hawaii, where mail-in ballots are prevalent. In Maui, rejected mail ballots prompted a lawsuit challenging the results of a local election with a narrow margin of victory. The lawsuit alleged that ballots were disqualified due to signature discrepancies, leading to calls for a new election.
While the Maui County’s signature verification process was upheld by the state Supreme Court, concerns linger among voters about rejected ballots. Grace Min, a resident who received a notice about her signature, questioned the verification process and expressed worries about the short window for correcting ballot errors.
The push for a more inclusive and efficient voting process continues, as stakeholders strive to ensure every vote is counted accurately and fairly.”
Min expressed, “and that doesn’t seem very fair.”
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