"Most people my age just kind of scribble." Signatures were a sticking point for young California voters this year
LA Times, December 23, 2024 (no paywall with the MSN link)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/most-people-my-age-just-kind-of-scribble-signatures-were-a-sticking-point-for-young-california-voters-this-year/ar-AA1wmuRu
"Most people my age just kind of scribble," said Johnson, 20, who works as an administrative assistant at a medical imaging clinic.
In California, voters younger than 25 made up 10% of the November electorate, but had nearly 3 in 10 of the ballots set aside for signature issues, according to an analysis by the voter data firm Political Data Inc. ((so under 25 had 3 times the rate of signature issues compared to all ages -nmmi)) More than half of the state's ballots with signature issues were from voters younger than 35.
California generally verifies the identities of mail voters through their signatures. ((usually their signature on their voter registration paperwork or driver's license --nmmi))
And then how the parties, in the most competitive districts, help their voters with signature or other issues to "cure" their ballots so that they are counted. "Campaign volunteers and workers went door to door in the districts, trying to talk to voters in person and explaining how to complete the ballot paperwork, in some cases helping them navigate scanning in, printing out and returning the forms."
There is little effort made in non-competitive districts, or to help voters of other parties.
Everyone with signature issues is notified by election officials. But the "cure" rate is far higher when volunteers visit and help.
I found this very interesting --
I just renewed my driver's license in Minnesota on Dec. 9. (The article is solely about California). I might have signed something with a little pad like this, e.g. acknowledging a convenience fee for using my credit card. But I signed some paper at the DMV the regular old-fashioned way, and that was, thankfully, the signature that ended up on my driver's license.
If I did sign anything digitally at the DMV (I just don't remember), it was certainly with a stylus. Same as at my dentist, when I update my health info, it's with a stylus. I have digitally signed some things in the past using my finger, and the result was awful.
In the 2026 midterms, Johnson said, he's going to vote in person no signature required.
Demovictory9
(33,961 posts)Signed digitally..deleted and signed again more carefully
Figarosmom
(3,279 posts)What did they think would happen when schools decided not to teach cursive any longer?
Somehow I think election officials should have thought of this
SheltieLover
(60,219 posts)hlthe2b
(106,734 posts)Don't get me started...
mopinko
(71,950 posts)its a chicken scratch, usually. 1st initial and last name. but when i vote, i make sure to use my best penmanship, and my full name.
hlthe2b
(106,734 posts)staff-ALL staff -- to be able to read and write in legible cursive after an LPN nurse intern exchanged an oxygen tank with a very clear and legible "malfunctioning do not use" during a resuscitation code, but that was among multiple other incidents that had medical staff demanding change. NOW all staff, from the hospital janitorial services to the most senior physician specialist, must write a paragraph IN FRONT of the hiring supervisor in cursive and YES, the judge in this ultimate EEOC lawsuit DID find for the hospital policy. Yes, computers are everywhere, but there are many instances where hand-written messages or notes in records simply MUST be read and interpreted correctly.
The idiocy of our society on things like this is why we have autocracy/kleptocracy/theocracy and fascism taking over. IGNORANCE is not to be celebrated. Just leave it there.
SunSeeker
(54,041 posts)It seems like every time he signs his name his signature is different.
no_hypocrisy
(49,181 posts)Because it's a fact.
I watched at least 80% of the voters make a signature look like a Picasso sketch. I often had to call in another worker to guess if the signature today matched the signature from the last election.
nuxvomica
(13,004 posts)Even though he has a learning disability and never learned to read and write, he still signs his name. When he went to sign in for voting, we all patiently waited while he slowly wrote a tortured scrawl of block letters, with lines going every which way. Then they brought up his previous year's signature on the electronic device for comparison and it was identical! I was so proud of him! Of course, he voted straight Democratic without my prompting. He may have a learning disability but he's not stupid.
jimfields33
(19,296 posts)mucifer
(24,929 posts)restaurant or a store I scribble.
I don't want the world to have my signature.
3Hotdogs
(13,559 posts)We don't have to sign credit receipts anymore. Does the merchant think there is some schmuk in the Asian subcontinent, looking over every signature on your credit receipt or on the bottom of the check you just wrote?
If I am asked to sign the receipt, I just make a big "X" on the bottom. I leave cash tips on the table.
"X" is no good. We need a signature."
Me: "X is a legal signature.
sinkingfeeling
(53,240 posts)We tagged hundreds to have their latest signature re-scanned into the system. Most had a single identifiable letter and then a line with a couple of bumps.
lostnfound
(16,714 posts)not the sociopaths erecting needless barriers.