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