New Jersey would shorten ballot cure deadlines and add text alerts

County election boards would have to try to contact some voters by text. This applies when a mail-in or provisional ballot is rejected because of a missing or mismatched signature. The board must try by text only if a cellular phone number is available. The board must issue a cure letter within 24 hours after deciding to reject the ballot and try to contact the voter by text if a cell number is available.

Voters would have four days after a general election to return a completed cure form for a signature problem. This applies when a voter is asked to fix a missing or mismatched signature on a mail-in or provisional ballot. For elections other than general elections, the form must be returned no later than 48 hours before final certification of the results. The four-day period runs after a general election; for other elections, the deadline is 48 hours before final certification.

Election workers would have to follow written guidance for comparing signatures. This covers county election workers who verify mail-in or provisional ballot signatures. The guidance addresses expected variation and signature features that may warrant invalidation, including letter shape, size, and spacing. The Secretary of State must publish the signature guidelines at least 14 days before each election.

Voters would have to swear or affirm a cure form for a signature problem before a qualified officer. This applies to a cure form used to address an alleged or actual signature problem. The form asks the voter to declare that they submitted the ballot, will not vote more than once, and is verifying their identity.