The Office of the State Auditor (Office) received many requests to review validated signatures of candidates in the recent primary election. We initiated a limited review of certain election processes including controls over and disclosure of voter registration information, as well as the validation process associated with signature-gathering by candidates. Today, the State Auditor released a letter regarding our initial observations of aspects of the signature validation process.
Much has been said questioning the validity of signatures by voters who have previously requested to have their voter registration information protected. Therefore, we concentrated our efforts on analyzing a sample of those signatures. The letter details an overview of the statistical methodology used in our primary review of validated signatures and our secondary review of a sample of previously uncounted signatures. Over 1,200 signatures were randomly sampled and analyzed during our review.
The Office reviewed signatures collected by three candidates running for statewide office: the Cox/Henderson campaign, the Curtis campaign, and the Brown campaign. Based on the statistical sampling of validated signatures within our primary population of validated signatures for voters with privacy protection, as well as consideration of the secondary population of uncounted signatures, we conclude that it is statistically likely each of these candidates met the statutory threshold of required valid signatures. Of note, had the signature validators reported that additional signatures were required, each candidate had ample time to gather additional signatures to meet the statutory threshold.
State Auditor John Dougall said:
“Given the concerns expressed by some over the inability to review the names of voters with protected voter registration information who had signed candidates’ packets, we concentrated our work specifically reviewing a sample of those signatures. After selecting a random sample of signatures, our team worked diligently to review the validity of those signatures. During that process, I personally reviewed each of those sampled signatures for the Cox/Henderson campaign. I noted 4 exceptions from our primary sample of 373 signatures.
“We then asked the signature validators to perform a validation of previously uncounted signatures that had been received before the submission deadline. A secondary random sample was selected for those uncounted signatures. We concluded that it is statistically likely each of these candidates met the statutory threshold of required valid signatures. In addition, each candidate had ample time before the deadline to gather additional signatures, if requested by the signature validators.
“We will continue our review into other aspects of Utah’s election process, but we hope our efforts provide the electorate with greater insight into the recent signature validation process.”
The news release and related information may be found on the Office’s website at auditor.utah.gov.
