Ballot tallying equipment is certified by an independent testing lab approved by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission before it can be used in Washington State. (4) The signature on the ballot declaration must be compared with the signature in the voter's voter registration file using the standards established in WAC 434-379-020. The two-step process involves running ballots through a sorter that takes a photo of the signature on the envelope and compares it to the voters’ signature on file, according to Haynes. The signature on a ballot declaration may not be rejected merely because the signature is not dated, unless the date is necessary to validate the timeliness of the ballot. ... Washington sends a mail ballot to all eligible voters for every election. FALSE, in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. your mail-in ballot signature won’t be compared to your signature on file with the DMV. Mail-In Voting Legal Fights Amid Pandemic Focus On Ballot Signatures Among the main targets are requirements such as signing a ballot envelope, or getting a witness … "Your witness can be … ; initiated state statute - Earns a spot on the ballot when sponsors collect signatures according to the laws governing the initiative process in Washington. ... Verification may be conducted by an automated verification system approved by the secretary of state. County auditors must contact voters if their ballot signature does not match the voter’s registration signature. Washington ballot measures come in several different varieties: legislatively referred state statute - Appears on a state's ballot as a ballot measure because the state legislature in that state voted to put it before the voters. Signatures are verified. Notary or Witness Signatures on Return Envelope Required? Some compare ballot signatures with dozens of historical ones on file, while others compare only with the signature on the voter’s ballot application or from a … Think twice before updating your voter registration to get a new signature on file . This year, the state is waiving the requirement for a witness signature on the ballot. Here’s what else you need to know about signing your mail-in ballot. 2). However, before turning in an absentee ballot, a voter must have a witness sign and address your ballot so your vote can count on election day.