Section 16.1-07-13.1 - Signature mismatch - Verification of signatures1. If an election official, absentee ballot precinct election board, or the canvassing board has reason to suspect the absent voter's signatures on the application and the affidavit on the returned ballot envelope do not match, the election official shall notify the absent voter the signatures do not appear to match. The notification must include instructions by which the absent voter may confirm the validity of the signatures, a statement that verification is required before the ballot can be counted, the date and time of the canvassing board meeting, and a statement that verification must be completed by the absent voter before close of the meeting of the canvassing board occurring thirteen days after the election.2. The absent voter may confirm the validity of the signatures by written communication or personal visit to the office of the election official administering the election. If the voter confirms by written communication, the written communication must include a copy of the identification used when applying for the ballot. If the voter confirms through a personal visit to the election official, the voter must show the identification used when applying for the ballot. The election official shall make a copy of the identification shown, and the copy must be included with the application and ballot when provided to the election board or canvassing board, whichever would be appropriate based on when the voter verified the signatures. The canvassing board shall include in the final tally the ballot from an absent voter who has completed the verification process and was eligible to vote the returned ballot.3. An individual contacted regarding the mismatch of signatures may deny making the application or returning the ballot. The election official receiving the denial shall turn the application and uncounted ballot over to the county state's attorney for investigation of attempted voter fraud.4. The election official shall record in the minutes of the county canvassing board the manner and number of attempts made to contact an absent voter for signature verification, the number of ballots included in the tally because the signatures were verified, and the number of ballots ultimately rejected by the canvassing board along with the reasons for the rejections.5. After the meeting of the canvassing board, the election official shall send a written notice to each absent voter whose ballot was rejected and not counted because of signature mismatch.Amended by S.L. 2023 , ch. 204( HB 1192 ), § 6, eff. 8/1/2023.Added by S.L. 2021 , ch. 164( HB 1253 ), § 43, eff. 8/1/2021.