Why some first-time voters get ballot cure notices

Why some first-time voters get ballot cure notices

Douglas County expects about 60,000 ballots to be returned Tuesday, but some first-time voters may find Election Day isn't their final step.

The big picture: The county clerk's office expects Tuesday's rush to push returned ballots past 100,000 since voting began earlier this month.

Yes, but: Thousands of ballots could be flagged because they're missing signatures or the signatures don't match what the county has on file.

Zoom in: About 8% of first-time voters could receive a notice to cure their ballot, says Jack Twite, the county's deputy director of elections.

The intrigue: Blame it, at least partly, on signatures that haven't settled yet.

  • Young voters are more likely to get flagged because officials have fewer signatures to compare, and many are still developing a consistent signature.

    • By the numbers: That compares with about 2% of all county voters expected to receive cure notices.

    In some cases, Twite tells Axios that signatures on file may date back to when young voters got their learner's permits.

    "The more you vote, the more elections you participate in, the easier it is for election judges to recognize your signature," he says.

    Why it matters: County voters are already getting letters and emails saying they need to fix signature issues or their primary votes won't count.

  • Voters have eight days after Election Day to cure their ballot.
  • In many cases, they can do it online by signing a new affidavit and uploading identification.

    • Reality check: A notice doesn't mean anyone did anything wrong. It means the county needs more information before counting the ballot.

    If voters don't fix their ballots, they'll get a letter from the 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office asking whether they actually attempted to vote.

    The bottom line: First-time voters who cast ballots this week should watch their email and mailboxes.

    What we're watching: Axios got a look at Douglas County ballot estimates Friday. The county's three most popular drop-off spots are:

    1. Parker Police Department

    2. Douglas County Sheriff's Office substation, Highlands Ranch

    3. Parker Town Center