Deschutes Co. reviews challenged ballot signatures

About 60 percent of voters have turned in their ballots to the Deschutes County Clerk’s Office, but some people are getting letters in the mail, notifying them of their ballot being challenged due to signatures that differ from ones on file.

Long lines of people are ready to vote and thousands of ballots are being prepared to be counted on Tuesday.

Election workers are preparing the ballots so when they go to the tabulator, they will be counted as the voter had intended, county Clerk Nancy Blankenship said.

On Monday, the elections office received two phone calls from voters concerned about people trying to get their ballot.

“People have been approached at their home by people wanting to take their ballot, if they have not turned it in,” Blankenship said.

The Elections Office will not go to your home to collect your ballot. Officials there also say people should not give their ballot to anyone they don’t know.

Officials said there are several drop-off locations around Bend and the county to make it easier for voters to drop off their ballot.

It’s also important voters sign their ballots with the correct signature. John Owczarzak had his ballot challenged.

Owczarzak said this election is too important for him to ignore the letter, so he drovef to the Elections Office to make sure his vote is counted.

Election workers said they look at the style of the signature to determine if the ballot needs to be challenged.

“So it’s for the voter’s protection and the system’s protection,” Blankenship said.

If your ballot is challenged, you have 14 days after the election to turn in your new registration card with a current signature to the Elections Office. And if the ballot is valid, your vote will still be counted.