LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Counties across Nevada had rejected or failed to verify signatures on more than 15,000 mail-in ballots as of Saturday — enough to swing an election in the state’s tight races.
Nevada’s 17 registrars rejected 591 ballots as of Saturday, according to the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office. Those ballots either arrived in the wrong envelope, or an envelope arrived without a ballot at all.
As of Saturday, registrars needed to verify the identities of 14,469 voters for their mail-in ballot to be tabulated. In Clark County, a signature verification machine takes the first pass at verifying a signature. If the machine determines there is no match to the signature on file, the ballot goes to a bipartisan review team that determines if the ballot needs to be verified.
More than 9,000 Nevada voters had verified — or “cured” their signature as in state language — as of Saturday morning. Clerks will notify a voter if there is a signature issue.
The Clark County Election Department will notify voters if there is an issue with their signature, however, a voter must have a phone number or email on file to be notified. Voters have until 5 p.m. on the sixth day after Election Day to provide a signature confirmation, Nevada law states — with the Veterans Day holiday, that date this year is Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Friday marked the last day of in-person early voting. The next and only opportunity to vote in person is on Election Day on Tuesday. Mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day will continue to be tabulated until Saturday, Nov. 9.
In 2022, 5,979 ballots statewide needing a signature cure were not counted — 2% of the total of mail-in ballots.
Clark County voters can see if the county has counted their mail-in ballot under the “Registered Voter Services” section of the election department’s website. The county can also be reached at 702-455-VOTE (8683).
Nye County voters can call 775-482-8134.
Close margins often decide Nevada elections: In 2022, Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo won by about 15,000 votes; Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto won by about 8,000 votes. In 2020, President Joe Biden won by about 33,000 votes.
