HB3651 Summary

• Election authorities must verify vote by mail applicants' signatures by comparison with the official registration record card only, not with the vote by mail application itself.

• Within 2 days after receiving a vote by mail ballot, election judges must compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope only with the signature on file in the election authority's office, and shall not compare it with the vote by mail application.

• Vote by mail ballots may be rejected if signatures do not match, the voter already cast an early or grace period ballot, the voter voted in person on election day, the voter is not registered in the precinct, or on other grounds specified in the Election Code.

• Voters whose ballots are rejected must be notified within 2 days and may appear before the election authority within 14 days after the election to present evidence supporting the ballot's validity.

• A panel of 3 election judges (no more than 2 from the same political party) reviews contested ballots and makes a final determination on validity that is not subject to administrative or judicial review.