One hundred fifty eight ballots are being returned to the voter because the signatures do not match up to what is on file.
Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton said when a voter submits their ballot, qualified signature checkers will compare the one on the ballot to the one in their voter registration file, and if they do not match, the voter will be contacted by letter and given the opportunity to fix the problem.
The letter includes a form for the voter to complete and return no later than the day before the election, Chilton said.
But, she said there are ways to avoid any problems with signatures.
“The best thing to do is to pull out your driver’s license, especially if you registered to vote online,” she said. “We captured your signature from your driver’s license record, and so you’re going to want to sign your ballot envelope in the same manner that you signed your driver’s license or your Washington State I.D. card.”
Chilton said if a Benton County voter has questions or needs to change their signature, they can go to the Benton County voter registration center, off Columbia Center Boulevard, and fill out a new registration form, which will then be added to their file.
The best way to cast a ballot is in a drop box, but Chilton said if someone does not have access to one, they can send it through mail by the last pickup of the day on November 5.
