BEND, OR -- Ballots for the November election are in the mail. But, before local voters partake in the democratic process, Deschutes County Clerk Nancy Blankenship says there are a couple of important things to remember. "When it arrives, you’ll have your ballot, which has measures and races on both sides; you’ll have a flyer that gives you the whole text of the state measures; and then you’ll also have a secrecy sleeve and the return envelope." She tells KBND News, "The ballot and the return envelope are the two pieces that are required to be counted, and you have to sign it."
She says that signature is the most important part of the process; the part that actually makes your ballot valid. "Your signature is verified against your signature on your voting record. Each and every ballot signature is checked. Don’t be offended if we challenge it because that’s good for you and the process." And, according to Blankenship, there are a number of reasons your signature could be different. "Sometimes your signature matures, changes; you’ve broken your arm, different things will happen in people’s lives. So, please do not be offended." She says fixing it and making sure your ballot is counted is a fairly simple process.
