The passage of HB 3651 would lead to significant changes in the operational procedures of election authorities across the state. By specifying that only the official registration record card's signature should be used for comparison, the bill aims to streamline the process. This could potentially reduce delays associated with ballot verification, making the process more efficient and timely, particularly in handling vote by mail ballots received close to election day.
Summary
House Bill 3651 aims to amend the Voting by Mail Article of the Election Code in Illinois. The bill stipulates that it is the responsibility of an election authority to verify whether a mail-in voter is legally entitled to vote. This verification process involves comparing the voter's signature on the ballot's certification envelope with the signature already on file with the election authority, rather than comparing it with the signature from the mail-in application. This change is designed to enhance the integrity of the voting process while simplifying the verification procedure.
Contention
However, there are areas of contention surrounding the bill. Critics may express concerns that the new rules could lead to improper rejections of valid ballots if the signature comparison is not handled with sufficient care and oversight. Additionally, some may argue that the changes might disproportionately affect voters with signature variations due to health conditions, age, or other legitimate reasons. Ensuring equal access for all voters while maintaining the security of the voting process will be a critical challenge that comes with the implementation of HB 3651.