DeSantis wants voters' signatures to match. Would his pass the test?

[Nevilledog]

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ashley dye
@ashleycdye
DeSantis wants to change how Florida verifies mail ballots by making it law for your ballot sig to match the most recent one on file.

But would he pass that test? I spent ... a while ... with DeSantis' signatures for this @scontorno report: https://tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/04/13/desantis-wants-voters-signatures-to-match-would-his-pass-the-test/…

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/04/13/desantis-wants-voters-signatures-to-match-would-his-pass-the-test/

Ronald DeSantis had just turned 30 when the up-and-coming prosecutor sent a Mayport Navy sailor to prison for six years on child pornography charges. DeSantis’ signature on the 2008 plea agreement was crisp and elegant: A sharp “R” to start; a stately “D” for Dion, his middle name; and “DeSantis” written with an artistic flourish.

Over the next 13 years, DeSantis’ signature would evolve from the neat cursive of his youth to the hurried one he uses frequently today as Florida’s governor. Along the way, he dropped the middle initial. He altered the look of the “R,” and then switched it back. A quick squiggle and a big swoop replaced most of the letters in his last name.

Handwriting experts say no two signatures from one person are the same. It’s why Florida election officials for years have used all the signatures at their disposal — sometimes more than a dozen — when they authenticate a voter’s signature on a mail-in ballot.

DeSantis wants to rein-in that long-standing practice. Vote-by-mail signatures “must match the most recent signature on file” with the state Department of Elections, DeSantis declared in February. A bill moving through the Florida Senate would make that the law.

Some election officials say limiting signature samples could make it harder to authenticate the identities of voters who choose to cast their ballot by mail. Signatures change over time, they say, and are often affected by the choice of pen, the writing surface, fatigue or a person’s health. A new requirement for a one-to-one match could lead to more rejected ballots.

*snip*

[Orrex]

1. I defy anyone to find two samples of my signature that match

At best, they might be characterized as "broadly similar."

[Bettie]

4. Mine too

It changes depending on the surface I'm writing on, how tired I am, what kind of pen I'm using.

If I have to sign on one of those pads at the store? All bets are off.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. That's the point.

[blm]

3. No one with Parkinsons or hand tremors need bother

to register in Florida.

[a kennedy]

10. EXACTLY.........

[sop]

5. Something tells me registered Republican voters' signatures will be less scrutinized in Florida.

[CurtEastPoint]

6. Dion?

[blueinredohio]

7. I know mine wouldn't.

When I registered to vote I signed with an ink pen on paper. When I sign to vote I sign with my finger on an electronic gadget. Not even legible much less matching.

[DonCoquixote]

8. he wants to be Trump II

and is is going to try to hand himself Florida

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. A lot of us wouldn't have matching signatures.

They change over time. I'd more or less deliberately altered mine, making it more of a scribble than a clear "Poindexter Oglethorpe". Then I had a bit of a problem at my bank because of non-matching signatures. The problem was easily resolved, and I've actually gone back to a clear "Poindexter Oglethorpe" signature.

I'll also admit to being motivated by my personally favorite science fiction author, Connie Willis, who has a very clear and legible signature. Thank you, Connie.

[no_hypocrisy]

11. I work the polls and have seen plenty of signatures.

Some of them are lines, squiggles, more art than signatures. I don't know how Santos will deal with those endorsements.

[BGBD]

12. Republicans vote

By mail a lot in FL, especially older ones who's signatures likely won't still match. We just challenge every mail in ballot from republican neighborhoods and villages.

These laws are desperation and won't help them like they think.