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Arizona Secretary of State - Signature Verification Guide
https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/AZSOS_Signature_Verification_Guide.pdf

A. INTRODUCTION

“Signature verification” is the process of comparing the signature on a voter’s affidavit envelope or ballot affidavit with the voter’s signature in the voter registration database. Signature verification plays an important role in our elections because it helps ensure that only those individuals eligible to vote have their vote counted. By serving as the method of identity verification for mailed ballots, it allows Arizona voters the convenience of voting by mail. This Guide will help those reviewing ballot affidavit signatures determine whether the ballot affidavit signature and the voter’s signature in the voter registration database were authored by the same person.

This Guide is provided to assist County Recorders’ Offices and their staff in conducting signature verification and is intended to be used as a reference in combination with the County Recorder’s specific procedures for early ballot processing. The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office thanks the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office and Yavapai County Recorder’s Office for sharing their excellent guides, from which this Guide is adapted.

[linMcHlp]

Arizona Secretary of State - Signature Verification Guide
https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/AZSOS_Signature_Verification_Guide.pdf

B. ANALYSIS

When conducting signature verification, it is important to keep in mind that everyone writes differently, and no one signs their name exactly the same way twice. A ballot affidavit signature should not be rejected because it does not look exactly the same as the signature in the voter’s registration record.

The following two-step analysis will allow you to confidently decide whether signatures are consistent with each other:

Step One: Evaluate the signature’s broad characteristics.

Broad characteristics include:

1. The type of writing (e.g., cursive vs. print)
2. The speed of writing (e.g., harmonious vs. slow and deliberate)
3. Overall spacing
4. Overall size and proportions
5. Position of the signature (e.g., slanted vs. straight)
6. Spelling and punctuation

If the broad characteristics of the signature on the ballot affidavit are clearly consistent with the broad characteristics of the voter’s signature in the voter registration database, you may accept the signature and move on. c
If not, proceed to Step Two.

Step Two: Evaluate the signature’s local characteristics.

If you find a combination of dissimilarities between the two signatures’ broad characteristics, then evaluate local characteristics, which include:

1. Internal spacing
2. The size or proportions of a letter or letter combination
3. Curves, loops, and cross-points
4. The presence or absence of pen lifts
5. Beginning and ending strokes

After evaluating the signatures’ local characteristics, you must decide whether to accept the ballot affidavit envelope signature as genuine, or flag it for a second check. Only a combination of characteristic differences between signatures should trigger a flag for a second check because no one signs their name the same way twice.

If, after going through the above analysis, you find a combination of differences between the signature on the ballot affidavit and the signature(s) in the voter registration database, consider whether the differences can be reasonably explained.

If you can reasonably explain the differences, then you may accept the signature. However, you should not waste time trying to “explain away” the differences that you see. If you find yourself laboring to do so, you should flag the signature for a second check.

Looking at more than one voter registration database signature, if available, may help with your analysis because people develop certain signature habits over time. Identify these habitual marks and determine whether they exist in the ballot affidavit’s signature.