LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — More than 9,000 mail-in ballots across Nevada were not counted because voters did not verify their signatures before the curing deadline, according to data the 8 News Now Investigators reviewed.
As of noon Wednesday, 9,182 mail-in ballots statewide needed a signature cure — meaning a voter needed to prove their identity for the vote to count. The number of outstanding ballots represents about 1% of all mail-in ballots returned for the general election and 0.6% of all votes cast.
The need for a signature cure can occur if a signature does not match the one a county registrar has on file or if there is no signature at all.
Nearly 33,000 ballots needed a signature cure throughout the entire election process, data said. About three-quarters of voters who needed to cure their ballot did so, meaning their vote was tabulated.
On Election Day, Democratic Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said signature issues swayed toward younger voters who rarely signed their names.
Nevada law allows a voter to cure their ballot until six days after Election Day. For this election, the deadline was Tuesday, Nov. 12.
County clerks are required to alert voters to a ballot signature issue.
In 2022, 5,979 ballots statewide needing a signature cure were not counted — 2% of the total of mail-in ballots.
Close margins often decide Nevada elections: This election, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen won re-elected by about 23,000 votes. In 2022, Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo won by about 15,000 votes; Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto won by about 8,000 votes.
