VoteWell.net

Checking Absentee Ballots

 

Short paper on categories of threats to absentee ballots, and best defenses (11 pages)

Detailed paper on threats and defenses for absentee ballots: "How to Check Absentee Ballots" (38 pages)

Procedures in a dozen counties and cure results, obtained by public records requests, 2022

 

Table showing how each state checks absentee ballots, and links to state laws

2020 spreadsheet of data from 2020 EAC survey, for each jurisdiction, with some state summaries

2022 spreadsheet of data from 2022 EAC survey, for each jurisdiction, with some state summaries

 

Paper on auditing ballot marking devices (BMDs)

 

 

Court cases to stop signature reviews

2019 IA LULAC of Iowa, Taylor Blair. http://votewell.net/polk.pdf "the risk of depriving Iowans of the right to vote outweighs any state interest

in requiring signature-verification of absentee applications and ballots... The lack of standards for comparing signatures; the lack of expertise and training regarding comparing signatures; and the unknown source, quantity and quality of any signatures 'on record' all contribute to a likelihood of error in determining a voter’s signature doesn’t match... The signature matching provisions of HF 516 do not pass rational basis scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause of the Iowa Constitution."

·       IA Supreme Court agreed to block signature matching, 8/10/2018 https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/2998/embed/AdditionalFile

·       https://web.archive.org/web/20221120193337/https://tennesseestar.com/2020/10/16/key-battleground-states-dont-require-signature-matching-on-mail-in-ballots/ and

·       https://iowastartingline.com/2019/10/01/partial-win-for-voting-rights-in-iowa-district-court/ and

·       https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/requiring-id-to-vote-in-iowa-can-continue-judge-rules/

https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-oral-argument-schedule/case/18-1276

2018 US Dist. of NH: Saucedo, Heard, Fitzpatrick. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6324891/saucedo-v-nh-secretary-of-state/

·       order #72 at https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nhd.45850/gov.uscourts.nhd.45850.72.0_1.pdf "The absence of functional standards is problematic, and the likelihood of error resulting therefrom is only compounded by the lack of meaningful review or oversight. ... Such discretion [in signature verification] becomes constitutionally intolerable once other factors are taken into account:"

·       complaint #1 at https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nhd.45850/gov.uscourts.nhd.45850.1.0.pdf "no voter should be disenfranchised simply because of penmanship. "

·       https://www.concordmonitor.com/aclu-ballot-signature-ruling-19481030

2022 WA, King County, Vet Voice, WA Bus, Centro de la Raza, Martinez, Cantrell, Brittl. https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221122-complaint-for-injunctive-and-declaratory-relief.pdf

2021 US E.Dist. of WA: Reyes, LULAC, LCF. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59891554/reyes-v-chilton/  120:motion for summary judgement, 155:response

Court cases which endorsed a process to cure mismatched signatures

2020 US S. Dist. Of OH: LWV of OH, Randolph Inst, Mangeni, Campbell. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17401211/league-of-women-voters-of-ohio-v-larose/ Deny preliminary injunction in docket #53, because cure process exists

·       https://lawyerscommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Ohio.pdf "a minimum of two hours is required to conduct a signature comparison." (p.238 of pdf, p.10 of exhibit from Linton Mohammed, docket #24-6)

2020 US W. Dist. of TX: Richardson, Weisfeld, MOVE, LWV of TX, Austin Justice, Texans w/Disabilities. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16027137/george-richardson-v-texas-secretary-of-state/ Ruling at #99, #105

·       https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/texas-signature-matching-challenge/

·       2023 overturned on appeal: Sec. of State not responsible for signature reviews, so not the right party to sue, docket #125

2020 US S. Dist of IN: Frederick, Collier, Marks, Clark, Common Cause IN. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/15619889/frederick-v-lawson/ Superceded by new law for cures: https://stateofelections.pages.wm.edu/2021/10/18/big-changes-indiana-election-law-curing-ballots-private-funds/

2020 US Dist. of ND: Self Advocacy, LWV of ND, Romo. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17221282/self-advocacy-solutions-nd-v-jaeger/ Settled by cure process, docket #36-37

2018 US N. Dist of FL: Florida Democratic Party. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4501391/florida-democratic-party-v-detzner/ Superseded by cure process in CSHB 105, FL statutes 101.68(2)(c)1, docket #53

 

Other sources:

https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/topic/vote-by-mail/