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Opportunity to Cure Missing and Mismatched Absentee-Ballot Signatures in California

Robert Timothy Reagan
August 2, 2023

Fugazi v. Padilla (Kimberly J. Mueller, E.D. Cal. 2:20-cv-970)
A candidate and several voters challenged the certification of a primary election, alleging that absentee voters were not given sufficient opportunities to cure missing or mismatched signatures. Absentee voting was important in the election because of a global infectious pandemic. The district judge denied the plaintiffs immediate relief because although a mailing to voters who had signature problems was confusing, and the election office was closed to visitors, clarifications were available by telephone.
Subject: Absentee and early voting. Topics: Signature matching; absentee ballots; Covid-19; enjoining certification; intervention; primary election; class action.

One of many Case Studies in Emergency Election Litigation.