Mail-in ballot signatures: Verifying them is complicated

Bertha Loera signs her name on the signature roster while dropping off her mail-in ballot at the Travis County Clerk’s Office in Austin, Texas, October 19, 2020. Photo by Jay Janner-USA TODAY NETWORK

California mailed ballots to every registered voter this year because of the pandemic. Everyone must sign their ballot envelopes for their votes to be counted, and the signatures must be verified. But the verification system’s not perfect. Signatures can change over time and maybe people sign in a hurry.