(a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official shall compare the signature on the identification envelope with either of the following to determine if the signatures compare: (A) The signature appearing on the voterâs affidavit of registration or any previous affidavit of registration of the voter. (B) The signature appearing on a form issued by an elections official that contains the voterâs signature and that is part of the voterâs registration record. (2) All of the following apply to the comparison of signatures pursuant to this section, including the comparison of a voterâs signature on a signature verification statement, an unsigned identification envelope statement, or a combined vote by mail ballot signature verification statement and unsigned identification envelope statement, with the signature that is part of the voterâs registration record: (A) A presumption exists that the signature on the identification envelope, signature verification statement, unsigned identification envelope statement, or provisional ballot envelope is the voterâs signature and that the vote will be counted. (B) An exact match is not required for an elections official to determine that a voterâs signature is valid. The fact that signatures share similar characteristics is sufficient to determine that a signature is valid. (C) Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the elections official shall consider explanations for discrepancies between signatures that are specified in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State. For purposes of this subparagraph, explanations include a variation in signature style over time and the haste with which a signature is written. (D) When comparing signatures, an elections official shall not review or consider any of the following: (i) A voterâs party preference, race, or ethnicity. (ii) A voterâs identifying information including gender, name, or address, except to confirm the identity of the voter. (iii) The amount of time spent reviewing a signature. (E) The elections official may consider characteristics of the written signature that are specified in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State. For purposes of this subparagraph, characteristics include the slant of the signature, letter formation, and whether the signature is printed or written in cursive. (F) The elections official may use facsimiles of votersâ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with the law. (G) In comparing signatures pursuant to this section, an elections official may use signature verification technology. If signature verification technology determines that the signatures do not compare, the signature is subject to the additional procedures described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c). (H) The variation of a signature caused by the substitution of initials for the first or middle name, or both, is not grounds for the elections official to determine that the signatures do not compare. (I) A signature made using a mark such as an âX,â or made by a signature stamp, shall be presumed valid and shall be accepted if the signature meets the requirements of Section 354.5. (b) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the elections official shall deposit the ballot, still in the identification envelope, in a ballot container in the elections officialâs office. (c) (1) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signature possesses multiple, significant, and obvious differing characteristics when compared to all signatures in the voterâs registration record, the signature is subject to the additional procedures described in paragraph (2). (2) If the elections official makes the determination described in paragraph (1), the signature shall be rejected only if two
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