By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Arizona Capitol Times
Arizonans who forget to sign their early ballots before dropping them in the mail are entitled to up to five days to “cure” the problem and get their votes counted, a federal judge has ruled.
Judge Douglas Rayes, an appointee of President Obama, pointed out that Arizona law already gives people whose signatures on ballot envelopes that do not match county records that same five-day grace period to resolve the problem. The judge said he sees no difference or additional burden created by the small number of additional people walking into county election offices to fix their mistake.
And Rayes pointed out that election officials already provide an opportunity, right up until 7 p.m. on Election Day, for those who forgot to sign their ballot envelopes to come to county offices.
