Early voting begins Monday in Texas, and Dallas County election officials are clearing up misinformation on social media about ballot signatures.
The Dallas County Elections Department issued a statement Sunday addressing a false claim spreading online that any writing or signature placed on a ballot by a poll worker will cause the ballot to be disqualified.
Election officials say that claim is false. In fact, Texas law requires ballots to be signed before they are given to voters.
According to the Dallas County Elections Department, the signature is a required security measure that helps verify the ballot is official. An unsigned ballot cannot be issued to a voter.
The person responsible for signing the ballot depends on when a voter casts their vote, Dallas County Elections said.
During early voting, which runs from October 19 through October 30, ballots carry the signature of Dallas County Elections Administrator Paul Adams, who serves as the Early Voting Clerk.
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, ballots will instead carry the signature of the Presiding Election Judge at each vote center.
“That signature is how a voter knows they are holding an official ballot,” Adams said. “It does not affect how your vote is counted. If you see it on your ballot, that means the process is working exactly as Texas law requires.”
Dallas County is not alone in addressing the misinformation. According to the department, election officials in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Ohio have also responded to the same rumor this month.
Voters who have questions about their ballots are encouraged to speak with a poll worker at their voting location.
Additional election information is available at DallasCountyVotes.org.
