The bill seeks to reduce ballot rejection rates by improving ballot curing, canvassing, reporting, and outreach processes. Key provisions include requiring county auditors to notify voters through various communication methods—such as phone, text, or email—if their ballot declaration is unsigned or if their signature does not match the one on file. The response time for voters has been extended from three to five business days, and if a voter's ballot is rejected due to a mismatched signature in two consecutive elections, the auditor must encourage the voter to update their signature. Additionally, the bill mandates the maintenance and reporting of records for all ballots with missing or mismatched signatures to the Secretary of State.

The legislation also introduces new sections that encourage county auditors to contact registered voters after election results are certified to obtain updated signatures, clarifying that responding is not mandatory for voter registration. The Secretary of State is tasked with establishing statewide standards for signature verification and providing training for election personnel. Furthermore, county auditors must develop outreach plans to educate voters on the importance of signature matching and updating processes, including creating forms in multiple languages. The bill amends existing laws regarding county canvassing boards, ensuring public accessibility and transparency in their meetings, and updates the voter registration application process to require personal details for verification. A work group is established to create a uniform ballot envelope design for all counties, with implementation set for the 2026 primary election.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 29A.60.165, 29A.40.091, 29A.60.140, 29A.08.210
Substitute Bill: 29A.60.165, 29A.40.091, 29A.60.140, 29A.08.210
Engrossed Substitute: 29A.60.165, 29A.40.091, 29A.60.140, 29A.08.210
Bill as Passed Legislature: 29A.60.165, 29A.40.091, 29A.60.140, 29A.08.210
Session Law: 29A.60.165, 29A.40.091, 29A.60.140, 29A.08.210