Elections & terms
signature verification
Comparing the signature on a mail ballot envelope to the one on file. A mismatch can set the ballot aside, usually with a chance to fix it.
In full
Most states that use it require notice and an opportunity to cure, letting the voter confirm their identity within a set window. Critics note that signatures change with age and disability and that reviewers are not handwriting experts; supporters call it the main identity check available for a ballot cast outside a polling place.
Also written as: ballot curing
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.