FROM THE AUDITOR

The Nov. 9 edition of the Shelton-Mason County Journal published statistics for the number of challenged ballots as of 8 p.m. on election night, "Mason County had the highest percentage of contested ballots in Washington's 39 counties, with more that 3.5% of the votes being cast contested." So, what's going on?

The contested ballots included many rejected for "signature mismatch." Signature verification is done by trained, experienced elections staff. Despite training and experience, signature verification is subjective. Our signature verifiers reject a signature when there is reasonable uncertainty about a match. There are reasons for this uncertainty. Signatures on file in the voter registration database provided by the Department of Licensing are typically generated on signature pads that result in "grainy" images. People have different signatures styles depending on whether they are signing something speedily or with care. Signatures change over time and can be affected by injury or illness.

When a ballot is rejected for signature mismatch, or the signature is missing, the "cure process" is set in motion. We send a letter to the voter that same day to notify them that their ballot envelope did not pass signature verification and request a new signature. Elections staff follow up with phone calls and emails to the voters when contact information is available. On the day before election certification, the Canvassing Board reviews ballot envelopes with "uncured" signatures. If accepted, the envelope is opened, ballot scanned, and votes are tabulated and incorporated into the election results. If rejected, the envelope remains unopened, and the votes don't count. You can find the statutory requirements in RCW 29A.60.165.

Ballots are challenged for other reasons. Ballots delivered to a locked ballot drop box after 8 p.m. on election night, or that arrive in the mail postmarked after Election Day are deemed "too late." Other challenged ballots have no voter name on the envelope, or a name that does not match the name of the voter. As of Nov. 17, the number of challenged ballots is 207, or 1.3% of the total number returned. This is below the state average. Of this number, 148 ballots (0.93%) are "curable," and curing efforts will continue until certification day.

I received a letter from a voter expressing frustration with both his ballot and his wife's ballot being rejected for a second year in a row. I called this voter and he shared why their signatures are changing. I explained the signature verification process and how elections staff diligently follow it. While understandably frustrated by the signature cure requests, the voter expressed appreciation for the Elections team doing their job.

I encourage you to join the Canvassing Board meeting on Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. to observe the review of the remaining challenged ballots in preparation for certification of the election. You can also watch the meeting by livestream at masoncountywaelections.gov/current-election. Hope to see you then.