How to check the signature on file for California voting by mail?
October 6, 2020 5:29 PM Subscribe
Where (if possible) am I able to check what signature California has on file for my voter registration?
Through a quirk of my family's history I have two signatures. I used to use the traditional capitalization my family has used (which includes a capital letter in the middle of my last name; think McDonald but different language). Over time after constant battles with trying to get it correct or having to explain again something I'm tired of explaining I switched to a more standard (capital letter only at the beginning) version. Which is actually how it would be written today in the country my family came from.
I'm currently filling out my vote-by-mail ballot and the instructions mention the signature I sign must match the signature on file. But I have no idea which version they have on file. Is there somewhere I can check this? Does a small difference like this even matter (everything but that one letter is identical)? I just want to make sure my vote is counted but I'm not sure how to proceed.
Through a quirk of my family's history I have two signatures. I used to use the traditional capitalization my family has used (which includes a capital letter in the middle of my last name; think McDonald but different language). Over time after constant battles with trying to get it correct or having to explain again something I'm tired of explaining I switched to a more standard (capital letter only at the beginning) version. Which is actually how it would be written today in the country my family came from.
I'm currently filling out my vote-by-mail ballot and the instructions mention the signature I sign must match the signature on file. But I have no idea which version they have on file. Is there somewhere I can check this? Does a small difference like this even matter (everything but that one letter is identical)? I just want to make sure my vote is counted but I'm not sure how to proceed.
Response by poster: It just says "voter registration record". I believe I first registered when I got my California license (which uses my old signature) but I also changed my registration several years back and may have used my current signature for that.
posted by downtohisturtles at 5:43 PM on October 6, 2020
posted by downtohisturtles at 5:43 PM on October 6, 2020
I will be watching for answers closely as I was about to post a similar Ask: NYC, registration when I was first eligible at 18 in 1971 and know I used first name/middle initial/birth name; moved away, moved back, for business and credit cards I switched to First initial/middle initial/birth name on most things including bank account and Will.
As I went to sign my absentee ballot today I could not picture what was in the book when I last voted! I do not want to waste my vote.
Mods you can delete and I will post separately if you prefer. But... I have the same dilemma.
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 8:18 PM on October 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
As I went to sign my absentee ballot today I could not picture what was in the book when I last voted! I do not want to waste my vote.
Mods you can delete and I will post separately if you prefer. But... I have the same dilemma.
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 8:18 PM on October 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
According to the CA Secretary of State's website, "your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match." That website also indicates that elections in CA are administered at county level, so you should contact your county election office with your questions.
posted by JackBurden at 8:30 PM on October 6, 2020
posted by JackBurden at 8:30 PM on October 6, 2020
I would be doubtful that any state would actually show you the signature on file online or anything, that would make it much easier to forge it and defeat the point of the signature check.
Here's a very detailed article about California's signature verification. The TLDR is that the process apparently differs per county, but due to a law passed in 2018 voters now have the opportunity to cure (fix) their ballot if the county decides the signatures don't match. It sounds like in most counties if it fails the initial check, they will look for other signatures on file for the same person, then if that fails again they will notify the voter (possibly slowly by mail unless you give them some other way). So I think the key is to try to match the STYLE of your original signature, even if the capitalization is different. And get your ballot in as soon as possible so you have time to cure it if they reject it.
posted by JZig at 9:40 PM on October 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
Here's a very detailed article about California's signature verification. The TLDR is that the process apparently differs per county, but due to a law passed in 2018 voters now have the opportunity to cure (fix) their ballot if the county decides the signatures don't match. It sounds like in most counties if it fails the initial check, they will look for other signatures on file for the same person, then if that fails again they will notify the voter (possibly slowly by mail unless you give them some other way). So I think the key is to try to match the STYLE of your original signature, even if the capitalization is different. And get your ballot in as soon as possible so you have time to cure it if they reject it.
posted by JZig at 9:40 PM on October 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
Yesterday afternoon, Molly Fitzpatrick, the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder and Ricky Hatch, the Weber County Clerk and Auditor did a Reddit AMA on mail-in and early voting. Signature matching came up a few times:
Is there a way to see what my signature looks like in registration data? Where would I go to find that?
You'll probably want to ask your local election official - this functionality varies by system. Many systems hold more than one signature per voter. If you have concerns that your signature on file might be different than your current signature, ask them how you can update it. It may very well require going through the registration process again.
Regardless, rest assured that if your signature does not match, you'll be notified and given a chance to make things right and have your vote counted. And, in these cases, your election official will most likely update your signature so you don't have this problem in future elections.
...later...
For ballots that are "rejected," because of scribbled/missing signatures, please know that we will contact the voter and give them a chance to "cure" or remedy the situation, so their vote will be counted. Unfortunately, many people end up not fixing it, for whatever reason. We try to make that cure process as convenient as possible, while ensuring it has the proper controls.
If a mail-in ballot is not counted due to a challenged signature, does that voter have the option to vote in person at any point? Will voters be able to confirm that their ballot has been received and counted prior to election day?
In Colorado, if a judge isn't able to make a signature match between the mail ballot envelope signature + the signature on the voter registration record, the voter will receive a notification to "cure" their signature. They can do so by email, text (new), or coming in person. We notify the voters right away that they need to take action (cure their signature) to have their ballot count. We encourage voters to sign up for Ballot Track to get notified right away.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:10 AM on October 7, 2020
Is there a way to see what my signature looks like in registration data? Where would I go to find that?
You'll probably want to ask your local election official - this functionality varies by system. Many systems hold more than one signature per voter. If you have concerns that your signature on file might be different than your current signature, ask them how you can update it. It may very well require going through the registration process again.
Regardless, rest assured that if your signature does not match, you'll be notified and given a chance to make things right and have your vote counted. And, in these cases, your election official will most likely update your signature so you don't have this problem in future elections.
...later...
For ballots that are "rejected," because of scribbled/missing signatures, please know that we will contact the voter and give them a chance to "cure" or remedy the situation, so their vote will be counted. Unfortunately, many people end up not fixing it, for whatever reason. We try to make that cure process as convenient as possible, while ensuring it has the proper controls.
If a mail-in ballot is not counted due to a challenged signature, does that voter have the option to vote in person at any point? Will voters be able to confirm that their ballot has been received and counted prior to election day?
In Colorado, if a judge isn't able to make a signature match between the mail ballot envelope signature + the signature on the voter registration record, the voter will receive a notification to "cure" their signature. They can do so by email, text (new), or coming in person. We notify the voters right away that they need to take action (cure their signature) to have their ballot count. We encourage voters to sign up for Ballot Track to get notified right away.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:10 AM on October 7, 2020
You can re-register to vote and use your current signature. The deadline hasn't passed in CA yet.
posted by mekily at 6:23 AM on October 7, 2020
posted by mekily at 6:23 AM on October 7, 2020
« Older How to come to grips with favouritism from... | Recs for comforting gifts for parent going through... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
My relative’s Virginia instructions mentioned signature on file for drivers license.
posted by calgirl at 5:36 PM on October 6, 2020