When a city or township clerk receives a voter’s absentee ballot, they first compare the signature on the absentee ballot envelope with the voter’s signature in the voter file. If the signature is missing, or the clerk finds that the signatures do not sufficiently match, the clerk rejects the ballot.

Michigan voters have a right to be immediately notified if their ballot is rejected because of a signature issue and to be given the opportunity to correct – or “cure” – the issue. The notice must come from the voter’s city or township clerk by phone, email, or text (or by U.S. mail if the clerk doesn’t have the voter’s other contact information), and it must tell the voter the reason that their signature was rejected, how to fix issue, and the deadline for fixing the issue. 

Voters have until 5 p.m. three days after Election Day – Friday, August 9 for the August 6 Primary Election – to correct any signature issues. If your ballot was rejected because of a signature issue, your local clerk will contact you and tell you how to fix the issue.