name, such as a reversal of first and last names, use of a middle name in place of a first
name, or omitting a second last name.
(c) The voter’s signature style may have changed slightly over time.
(d) The signature may have been written in haste.
(e) The surface of the location where the signature was made may have been rough,
soft, uneven, or unstable.
(2) In addition to the characteristics listed in R 168.23(2)(f) and (g), the elections
official may also consider factors applicable to a particular voter, such as the age of the
voter, the age of the signature or signatures contained in the voter’s record, the possibility
that the voter is disabled, the voter’s primary language, and the quality of any digitized
signature or signatures contained in the voter’s record, and any other plausible reason
given by the voter that satisfies the clerk when following up on a questionable signature.
History: 2022 MR 24, Eff. December 19, 2022.
R 168.25 Timing of signature review and notification.
Rule 5. (1) If the absent voter ballot application or the absent voter ballot envelope
is received at least 6 calendar days prior to the election, the clerk must notify the voter of
issues with the voter’s signature by the end of the next business day following receipt of
the application or ballot envelope.
(2) If the absent voter ballot application or the absent voter ballot envelope is
received less than 5 calendar days prior to the election, an election official must review
that absent voter ballot application or absent voter ballot envelope by the end of the
calendar day on which the absent voter ballot application or absent voter ballot envelope
was received by the clerk. If the election official determines that the voter’s signature on
the absent voter ballot application or absent voter ballot envelope does not agree
sufficiently with the signature on file, the election official must contact the voter by the
end of the calendar day on which the absent voter ballot application or absent voter ballot
envelope was received by the clerk.
(3) If the absent voter ballot application or the absent voter ballot envelope is
received by the clerk by 8 p.m. on the calendar day prior to an election, an election
official must review the absent voter ballot application or absent voter ballot envelope
before the end of the calendar day prior to the election. If the election official determines
that the voter’s signature on the absent voter ballot application or absent voter ballot
envelope does not agree sufficiently with the signature on file, the election official must
contact the voter by the end of the calendar day prior to the election.
(4) For the purposes of this rule, if the absent voter ballot application or absent
voter ballot envelope comes into the physical control of the clerk’s office before or
during the clerk’s scheduled business hours, that absent voter ballot application or absent
voter ballot envelope is considered to have been received by the clerk on the day of
submission. If an absent voter ballot application or absent voter ballot envelope comes
into the physical control of the clerk’s office after the end of the clerk’s scheduled
business hours, or if the absent voter ballot application or absent voter ballot envelope
comes into the physical control of the clerk’s office on a day on which the clerk does not
have scheduled business hours, that absent voter ballot application or absent voter ballot
Page 3