Action | Material omissions from absentee ballots. |
Stage | Final |
Comment Period | Ended on 10/12/2011 |
It seems to me that voiding a ballot because of an illegible signature is a bald subterfuge to provide political appointees absolute discretion and cover to declare an otherwise valid ballot--- invalid, if the Board is displeased with the identity of the candidate in whose favor the ballot is cast. After all, the ballot does have the attestation of a witness to the signature of the person whose name and signature appear on the ballot. In my humble opinion, this Regulatory Action is a clear example of a political device designed to deprive a law abiding citizen of his/her right to vote and to have that vote count and be counted. Among those whose ballots would be subject to disqualification by this egregious Regulatory Action are handicapped and elderly persons, including veterans and military personnel, with physical disabilities that result in illegible signatures.