examples/  example-signature-mismatch.mdreferences/  nj-curable-defects.md  nj-cure-deadline-and-process.mdSKILL.md

# Mail ballot cure notice

You help an election official draft a notice telling a voter that their mail (or
absentee) ballot has a curable defect, and exactly how and by when to fix it.
This is a **fact-dominant** task: the tone is yours to get right, but the
deadline and the cure procedure are statutory facts that must come from
`references/` for the voter's jurisdiction, never from memory.

## Before you draft

1. **Identify the jurisdiction, and the body that administers the cure.** Cure
   deadlines, which defects are curable, and accepted cure methods are
   jurisdiction-specific, and in many states they are set per county (the cure
   form goes to a specific county board). The **county (or local administering
   body) is required, not optional.** The deadline frequently depends on it. Take
   all of this from `references/` for the running jurisdiction. **If the user's
   jurisdiction is not covered by your references, do not borrow another
   jurisdiction's deadline, defect list, or method.** Say you can draft the
   structure, but the deadline and procedure must be sourced and confirmed for
   that jurisdiction first.
2. **Identify the defect, and confirm it is actually curable in this
   jurisdiction.** Which defects are curable is set by law and is *narrower than
   people assume*. Take the curable set from `references/`; do **not** assume a
   defect is curable. Defects that are commonly **not** curable (and must not be
   treated as curable unless references explicitly say so) include a tampered or
   unsealed inner-envelope seal, a late or postmark-deficient ballot, a wholly
   missing certificate/inner envelope, and ineligibility or duplicate-vote issues.
   If the stated defect is not in the references' curable set, say plainly that it
   is **not curable** through this process and route the official to counsel / the
   board. Do not draft a cure notice for it.
   *(For the New Jersey references currently shipped, the only curable defects are
   a **missing signature** and a **non-matching signature**, N.J.S.A.
   19:63-17(b). NJ rejects, and does not cure, a tampered/unsealed inner
   envelope.)*
3. **Pull the deadline and method from `references/`, never from memory.** The
   deadline is whatever the references specify, and it is frequently **relative**
   (e.g. NJ: "48 hours before this county's final certification") rather than a
   fixed calendar date. **Do not print a specific cure-by date or a day-count as
   fact**, and do not estimate one. A concrete date appears on a notice only when
   the **official fills it in from the administering body's confirmed schedule.**
   If pressured to "just give a date," refuse and explain why. An unverified or
   invented deadline is the one error this skill exists to prevent.

## Approach

1. **Lead with what the voter must do**, in one plain sentence, before any
   explanation. A worried voter should be able to act from the first line.
2. **State the exact cure method(s)** the jurisdiction accepts (e.g. signed cure
   form by mail, in person, by a stated electronic method) and where to send or
   bring it. Take these from references; do not invent a method.
3. **State the deadline exactly as the references define it**, with the statutory
   basis noted once. If it is a fixed rule you can cite, state it. If it is
   **relative** (e.g. "48 hours before the county's final certification"), state
   the rule and leave the concrete date as a clearly-marked blank for the official
   to fill from the administering body's confirmed schedule. Do **not** compute it
   yourself, and do not assume a relative deadline can be derived from the election
   date alone.
4. **Be respectful and non-alarming.** The voter did nothing wrong by having a
   curable ballot. No blame, no legalese, no implication their vote is lost.
5. **Include only what's required.** Identity-verification language, contact
   number for questions, and an accessibility note if the office uses one. Keep
   it short.
6. **Draft for review and signature. Never auto-send.** Cure notices are official
   communications; the official confirms the deadline and method before it goes
   out.

## Output

- The voter-facing notice (plain language, 5th–8th-grade reading level).
- A one-line **source stamp**: the statute/rule cited, the compile date of the
  reference, and the reference's **verification status.** If the reference is
  marked "DRAFT, pending SME verification," the source stamp must say so. Never
  present an unverified reference as a confirmed legal fact.
- A **confirm-before-send checklist**: deadline date (to be filled from the
  administering body's confirmed schedule), accepted method(s), return location,
  and any defect-specific requirement.

## What you must not do

- Do not state a deadline or a cure method you cannot cite from references for the
  running jurisdiction.
- Do not borrow another jurisdiction's cure deadline, defect list, or method when
  the user's jurisdiction isn't in your references, even if asked. Draft the
  structure and flag what must be sourced.
- Do not treat a tampered/unsealed seal, a late ballot, a missing inner envelope,
  or any defect outside the references' curable set as curable.
- Do not output a concrete cure-by date unless the official supplies a confirmed
  certification/administration date; otherwise leave it as a clearly-marked blank
  to be filled and verified.
- Do not imply the ballot is rejected or the vote is lost when the defect *is*
  curable. It can be fixed.
- Do not add legal threats or consequences that aren't in the governing rule.
- Do not localize to a jurisdiction the user didn't name.

# Mail ballot cure notice (skill package)

## SKILL.md
# Mail ballot cure notice

You help an election official draft a notice telling a voter that their mail (or
absentee) ballot has a curable defect, and exactly how and by when to fix it.
This is a **fact-dominant** task: the tone is yours to get right, but the
deadline and the cure procedure are statutory facts that must come from
`references/` for the voter's jurisdiction, never from memory.

## Before you draft

1. **Identify the jurisdiction, and the body that administers the cure.** Cure
   deadlines, which defects are curable, and accepted cure methods are
   jurisdiction-specific, and in many states they are set per county (the cure
   form goes to a specific county board). The **county (or local administering
   body) is required, not optional.** The deadline frequently depends on it. Take
   all of this from `references/` for the running jurisdiction. **If the user's
   jurisdiction is not covered by your references, do not borrow another
   jurisdiction's deadline, defect list, or method.** Say you can draft the
   structure, but the deadline and procedure must be sourced and confirmed for
   that jurisdiction first.
2. **Identify the defect, and confirm it is actually curable in this
   jurisdiction.** Which defects are curable is set by law and is *narrower than
   people assume*. Take the curable set from `references/`; do **not** assume a
   defect is curable. Defects that are commonly **not** curable (and must not be
   treated as curable unless references explicitly say so) include a tampered or
   unsealed inner-envelope seal, a late or postmark-deficient ballot, a wholly
   missing certificate/inner envelope, and ineligibility or duplicate-vote issues.
   If the stated defect is not in the references' curable set, say plainly that it
   is **not curable** through this process and route the official to counsel / the
   board. Do not draft a cure notice for it.
   *(For the New Jersey references currently shipped, the only curable defects are
   a **missing signature** and a **non-matching signature**, N.J.S.A.
   19:63-17(b). NJ rejects, and does not cure, a tampered/unsealed inner
   envelope.)*
3. **Pull the deadline and method from `references/`, never from memory.** The
   deadline is whatever the references specify, and it is frequently **relative**
   (e.g. NJ: "48 hours before this county's final certification") rather than a
   fixed calendar date. **Do not print a specific cure-by date or a day-count as
   fact**, and do not estimate one. A concrete date appears on a notice only when
   the **official fills it in from the administering body's confirmed schedule.**
   If pressured to "just give a date," refuse and explain why. An unverified or
   invented deadline is the one error this skill exists to prevent.

## Approach

1. **Lead with what the voter must do**, in one plain sentence, before any
   explanation. A worried voter should be able to act from the first line.
2. **State the exact cure method(s)** the jurisdiction accepts (e.g. signed cure
   form by mail, in person, by a stated electronic method) and where to send or
   bring it. Take these from references; do not invent a method.
3. **State the deadline exactly as the references define it**, with the statutory
   basis noted once. If it is a fixed rule you can cite, state it. If it is
   **relative** (e.g. "48 hours before the county's final certification"), state
   the rule and leave the concrete date as a clearly-marked blank for the official
   to fill from the administering body's confirmed schedule. Do **not** compute it
   yourself, and do not assume a relative deadline can be derived from the election
   date alone.
4. **Be respectful and non-alarming.** The voter did nothing wrong by having a
   curable ballot. No blame, no legalese, no implication their vote is lost.
5. **Include only what's required.** Identity-verification language, contact
   number for questions, and an accessibility note if the office uses one. Keep
   it short.
6. **Draft for review and signature. Never auto-send.** Cure notices are official
   communications; the official confirms the deadline and method before it goes
   out.

## Output

- The voter-facing notice (plain language, 5th–8th-grade reading level).
- A one-line **source stamp**: the statute/rule cited, the compile date of the
  reference, and the reference's **verification status.** If the reference is
  marked "DRAFT, pending SME verification," the source stamp must say so. Never
  present an unverified reference as a confirmed legal fact.
- A **confirm-before-send checklist**: deadline date (to be filled from the
  administering body's confirmed schedule), accepted method(s), return location,
  and any defect-specific requirement.

## What you must not do

- Do not state a deadline or a cure method you cannot cite from references for the
  running jurisdiction.
- Do not borrow another jurisdiction's cure deadline, defect list, or method when
  the user's jurisdiction isn't in your references, even if asked. Draft the
  structure and flag what must be sourced.
- Do not treat a tampered/unsealed seal, a late ballot, a missing inner envelope,
  or any defect outside the references' curable set as curable.
- Do not output a concrete cure-by date unless the official supplies a confirmed
  certification/administration date; otherwise leave it as a clearly-marked blank
  to be filled and verified.
- Do not imply the ballot is rejected or the vote is lost when the defect *is*
  curable. It can be fixed.
- Do not add legal threats or consequences that aren't in the governing rule.
- Do not localize to a jurisdiction the user didn't name.

## references/nj-curable-defects.md
# New Jersey — Which Mail-In Ballot Defects Are Curable

> **DRAFT — pending SME verification.** Assembled by an AI skill from primary and official New Jersey sources. An SME (county counsel or NJ Division of Elections) must confirm the curable/non-curable classifications and the signature standard for the specific election before a cure notice relies on this file.

> **Provenance:** N.J.S.A. 19:63-17, 19:63-17.1, 19:63-17.2 (NJ Ballot Cure Act, A4276 / P.L. 2020, c.70) and NJ Division of Elections guidance. Literal compile date: **2026-06-25**. Sources at bottom.

---

## 1. The defects the cure process is built for (CURABLE)

New Jersey's statutory cure process is expressly triggered by **signature problems on the certificate** of the mail-in (or provisional) ballot. Per **N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)**, the board must issue a Cure Letter when it would reject a ballot on the basis of:

| Defect | Curable? | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| **Missing signature** on the certificate (voter did not sign) | **Yes** | N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(1)–(2) — "missing signature" |
| **Signature that does not match** the registration record (discrepant signature) | **Yes** | N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(1)–(2) — "discrepant signature" |

Both types are cured the same way: the voter completes, signs, dates, and returns the Cure Form by the deadline (see `nj-cure-deadline-and-process.md`, §2 and §5). On a timely cure that verifies identity, the ballot **"shall be counted ... irrespective of any signature deficiency previously identified,"** and the cure form may not itself be signature-matched.

---

## 2. Defects that must NOT cause rejection (no cure needed — count the ballot)

A4276 added protections so that certain non-voter-caused defects **cannot be the basis for rejection at all**. These are not "cured" — the board simply may not reject for them.

> Quote: "Mail-in ballots shall not be rejected due to any defect arising out of or relating to the preparation or mailing of the ballot or envelope that was not reasonably caused by the voters, such as a torn envelope and missing or insufficient glue." — N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(a).

Examples in this category:
- **Torn envelope** (not voter-caused).
- **Missing or insufficient glue / envelope that won't seal** through no fault of the voter.

---

## 3. Defects that are NOT curable (ballot is rejected)

Some conditions are grounds for **rejection** and are **not** addressed by the signature-cure process:

> Quote: "Any mail-in ballot which is received by a county board of elections shall be rejected if the inner envelope is unsealed or if either the inner or outer envelope has a seal that has been tampered with." — N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(a).

| Defect | Status |
|---|---|
| **Inner envelope unsealed** | **Rejected — not curable** |
| **Inner or outer envelope seal tampered with** | **Rejected — not curable** |

**Other potential defects — flagged for SME:**
- **Missing inner ("certificate") envelope entirely** (ballot returned with no inner envelope): The statute's express signature-cure remedy covers signature defects, not a wholly missing inner envelope. The Division's Ballot Review and Ballot Counting guides address envelope handling in more detail. **[UNVERIFIED — SME must confirm]** whether a missing inner envelope is treated as non-curable rejection or has a separate handling rule; confirm against the current "Board of Elections Vote-by-Mail Ballot Review Guide."
- **Late-received ballot / postmark issues:** Governed by separate VBM-return deadline rules (N.J.S.A. 19:63-22 and related), **not** by the signature-cure process. Not curable via the cure form. **[Confirm current receipt/postmark deadline separately.]**
- **Lateness, eligibility, or duplicate-vote issues** are outside the cure process.

> General principle to apply: the cure process exists specifically for **missing or non-matching voter signatures**. It does not rehabilitate ballots rejected for tampering, an unsealed inner envelope, lateness, or ineligibility. Do **not** tell a voter a non-signature defect is curable unless the SME confirms a specific remedy.

---

## 4. The signature-comparison standard the board applies

New Jersey law constrains how strictly boards may judge signatures — it is **pro-voter and presumes validity**.

**Presumption of validity (N.J.S.A. 19:63-17.2):**
> "[E]valuators shall presume that the documents were signed by the same person and shall accept a signature as valid unless there is a clear discrepancy that cannot be reasonably explained." — N.J.S.A. 19:63-17.2(c).

**Initials and abbreviations are not grounds to reject (N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(d)):**
> "[V]ariations in voter signatures caused by the substitution of initials for the first name, middle name, or both, shall not be grounds for the county board of elections to determine that the signatures are non-conforming or do not match."

**Failure to cure is not evidence of fraud (N.J.S.A. 19:63-17.1(a)):**
> "The failure or alleged failure of any voter to cure alleged deficiencies in the voter's mail-in ballot shall not create a presumption that the vote is improper or invalid."

**Evaluator procedure (multi-reviewer):** A4276 directed the Secretary of State to issue educational materials/standards for signature evaluators (N.J.S.A. 19:63-17.2). **[UNVERIFIED — SME must confirm]** the precise procedural mechanics — e.g., how many evaluators must review a signature before a ballot is flagged as non-matching, and what happens on evaluator disagreement. The enacted statute sets the presumption-of-validity *standard* but the detailed reviewer workflow appears in the Division's signature-verification guidance rather than verbatim in the statute; confirm in the current "Guide to Signature Verification of Mail-In and Provisional Ballots and Cure."

---

## 5. Voter-notification requirements by defect type

| Defect type | Must the board notify? | How / when |
|---|---|---|
| Missing signature | **Yes — Cure Letter required** | Mail or email **within 24 hours** of the rejection decision, plus phone attempt if number on file; include Cure Form (N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(1)) |
| Non-matching / discrepant signature | **Yes — Cure Letter required** | Same as above |
| Non-voter-caused defect (torn envelope, glue) | No rejection — **count the ballot**; no cure notice needed | N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(a) |
| Unsealed inner envelope / tampered seal | Rejected — **not curable**; board notification follows general rejection notice rules, **not** the cure process | N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(a) — **[confirm what notice, if any, is owed for these rejections]** |

---

## 6. Drafting guidance

- For a cure notice, **identify which signature defect applies** (missing vs. non-matching) — the voter is entitled to know "the reasoning for rejection" (N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(1)).
- **Do not** characterize tampering/unsealed-inner-envelope rejections as curable.
- When in doubt about a missing inner envelope, late ballot, or any non-signature condition, **route to SME** rather than promising a cure.
- Remember the pro-voter standard: initials substitutions and reasonably-explainable variations are **not** valid grounds to reject; if a ballot was flagged on such a basis, raise it with the board before sending a rejection.

---

## Sources

- N.J.S.A. 19:63-17, 19:63-17.1, 19:63-17.2 — via Justia (host blocked automated fetch; open directly): https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-19/section-19-63-17/
- P.L. 2020, c.70 (A4276, 2R) — NJ Ballot Cure Act, enacted text, NJ Legislature: https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2020/PL20/70_.HTM
- NJ Division of Elections, "Guide to Signature Verification of Mail-In and Provisional Ballots and Cure" (2025 reissue): https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/guidelines/2025/2025-0507-guide-nj-signature-verification-and-cure.pdf
- NJ Division of Elections, "Board of Elections Vote-by-Mail Ballot Review Guide" (rev. Oct. 27, 2022; 2025 reissue): https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/guidelines/2025/2025-0507-guide-board-of-elections-ballot-review.pdf
- NJ Division of Elections, "Board of Elections Ballot Counting Guide" (issued Oct. 19, 2020; 2025 reissue): https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/guidelines/2025/2025-0507-board-of-elections-ballot-counting-guide.pdf
- Kaufman Lieb Lebowitz & Frick, background on *LWV of NJ v. Way* and the Ballot Cure Act: https://www.kllflaw.com/news-articles/njbca

*Compiled 2026-06-25. DRAFT — pending SME verification.*

## references/nj-cure-deadline-and-process.md
# New Jersey — Mail-In Ballot Cure: Deadline & Process

> **DRAFT — pending SME verification.** This reference was assembled by an AI skill from primary and official New Jersey sources. Before relying on it to draft a cure notice, a subject-matter expert (county counsel or the NJ Division of Elections) must confirm the cure deadline and procedure for the specific election in question. A wrong cure deadline could disenfranchise a voter.

> **Provenance:** Compiled from N.J.S.A. 19:63-17 et seq. (enacted by the NJ Ballot Cure Act, A4276 / P.L. 2020, c.70) and NJ Division of Elections materials. Literal compile date: **2026-06-25**. Sources listed at the bottom of this file.

---

## 1. Controlling legal authority

New Jersey's mail-in ballot cure process is **codified in statute**. It is not merely a directive or a court order — though it began as one.

- **Origin (court settlement):** The cure process was first established by a **consent order in *League of Women Voters of New Jersey v. Way*** (filed May 18, 2020), which required notice-and-cure for signature-mismatch rejections for the July 7, 2020 primary.
- **Codified into law:** The **Ballot Cure Act**, Assembly Bill **A4276**, was signed by Governor Murphy on **August 28, 2020**, and enacted as **P.L. 2020, c.70**. It codified and expanded the settlement's provisions.
- **Primary statute:** **N.J.S.A. 19:63-17** ("Actions of county board of elections relative to mail-in ballot"), together with companion sections **N.J.S.A. 19:63-17.1** (determination of ballot validity) and **N.J.S.A. 19:63-17.2** (educational materials / evaluation standards for signature evaluators).
- **Provisional ballots:** The same notice-and-cure scheme applies to provisional ballots; A4276 also amended **N.J.S.A. 19:53C-1**. Throughout 19:63-17 the statute refers to "mail-in **or provisional** ballot."

> Note: Justia hosts the current statutory text at law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-19/section-19-63-17/, but that host blocked automated retrieval during compilation. The quotations below were verified against the enacted bill text on the NJ Legislature's official site (pub.njleg.gov). **SME should confirm against the current codified text**, as later amendments may have occurred.

---

## 2. The cure DEADLINE (the single most important fact)

> **DEADLINE — quote the statute:** A voter may cure a signature deficiency by completing the cure form and returning it to the county board of elections
> **"not later than 48 hours prior to the final certification of the results of the election."**
> — N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(2) (as enacted in P.L. 2020, c.70, §17).

Key points an official must understand about this deadline:

- The deadline is **relative, not a fixed calendar date.** It is **48 hours (2 days) before that county's final certification** of the election results — not a fixed number of days after Election Day.
- Because each county certifies on its own schedule, **the actual cure-by date varies by county and by election.** A cure notice should state the concrete date/time for *this* election, calculated from this county's certification schedule. **Confirm the exact certification date with the county board before printing a deadline on any notice.**
- **Context for calculating it (verify):** Under N.J.S.A. 19:19-1 et seq., the county board of canvassers generally meets on the **13th day after the election** to canvass results. The "48 hours before final certification" cure deadline is commonly described in voter-facing summaries as roughly **11 days after Election Day**. **[UNVERIFIED — SME must confirm]** the precise tie between the canvass date, the "final certification" date, and the resulting 48-hour cutoff for your county; the statute pins the deadline to "final certification," not to the canvass meeting, and these may differ.

---

## 3. What the county board must do (notification)

Per **N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(1)**, **within 24 hours** after the board decides to reject a mail-in or provisional ballot **on the basis of a missing signature or a discrepant (non-matching) signature**, the board must:

1. **Issue a "Cure Letter" — by mail or email — to the voter**, informing the voter of the rejection and the reason for it; and
2. **Include a "Cure Form"** with the letter. The form must include the voter's name and instruct the voter how to cure the deficiency; and
3. **Attempt to contact the voter by telephone**, if a telephone number is available, to advise the voter of the deficiency, explain the right to cure, advise that a cure letter/form is coming, and ask for an email address to speed delivery.

> Quote: "within 24 hours after the decision has been made to reject a voter's mail-in or provisional ballot on the basis of a missing signature or discrepant signature, issue a 'Cure Letter' by mail or email to the voter ... and attempt to contact the voter by telephone." — N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(1).

---

## 4. What the voter must do to cure (steps)

For a **signature deficiency**, the voter must:

1. **Complete the Cure Form** included with the Cure Letter (it is pre-printed with the voter's name and cure instructions).
2. **Sign and date** the Cure Form.
3. **Return it to the county board of elections** by an accepted method (see §5).
4. **Ensure it is received no later than 48 hours before final certification** (see §2).

If the voter returns a completed cure form **in a timely manner and the information provided verifies the voter's identity**, the otherwise-valid ballot **"shall be counted in the final election results irrespective of any signature deficiency previously identified."** Importantly, in that case **the cure form itself may not be verified or authenticated using signature matching** (N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(2)).

Failure to cure does **not** create a presumption that the vote is improper or invalid (N.J.S.A. 19:63-17.1(a)).

---

## 5. Accepted cure methods & where the form goes

Per **N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(2)**, for a **signature deficiency** the voter may return the completed Cure Form to the **county board of elections** by:

- **In person**,
- **By fax**,
- **By email**, or
- **By mail.**

> The statutory text lists "in person, by fax, or by email ... or by returning it to the county board of elections by mail." **All four methods are permitted**, but the form must be **received** by the board no later than the 48-hour deadline regardless of method. For mailed returns, voters should be told to allow for delivery time. **[Confirm whether your county sets a postmark vs. receipt rule for mailed cure forms — the statute keys to the receipt deadline.]**

The form goes to the **county board of elections** (not the county clerk and not the Division of Elections). Cure notices should give the board's physical address, fax number, and a monitored email address.

---

## 6. Practical checklist for drafting a cure notice

- [ ] State the **specific reason** for the rejection (missing signature, or signature does not match — see the companion file `nj-curable-defects.md`).
- [ ] State the **exact cure-by date and time** for *this* election (computed from this county's final-certification date, then minus 48 hours). **Verify with the board.**
- [ ] List **all four return methods** (in person, fax, email, mail) with the board's contact details.
- [ ] Enclose the **Cure Form** pre-filled with the voter's name.
- [ ] Note that timely return verifying identity means the ballot **will be counted notwithstanding the signature issue.**
- [ ] Send by **mail or email within 24 hours** of the rejection decision, and **attempt a phone call** if a number is on file.

---

## Sources

- N.J.S.A. 19:63-17 (2025), "Actions of county board of elections relative to mail-in ballot," via Justia: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-19/section-19-63-17/ (host blocked automated fetch; cited for reference — SME should open directly)
- P.L. 2020, c.70 (A4276, 2R) — NJ Ballot Cure Act, enacted text, NJ Legislature: https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2020/PL20/70_.HTM
- A4276 bill text, NJ Legislature: https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2020/A4500/4276_I1.HTM
- NJ Division of Elections, "Guide to Signature Verification of Mail-In and Provisional Ballots and Cure" (2025 reissue): https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/guidelines/2025/2025-0507-guide-nj-signature-verification-and-cure.pdf
- NJ Division of Elections, "Board of Elections Vote-by-Mail Ballot Review Guide" (rev. Oct. 27, 2022; 2025 reissue): https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/guidelines/2025/2025-0507-guide-board-of-elections-ballot-review.pdf
- Kaufman Lieb Lebowitz & Frick, "Plaintiffs in NJ Lawsuit Establishing Fair Ballot Signature Match Process Applaud Ballot Cure Act" (background on *LWV of NJ v. Way* consent order): https://www.kllflaw.com/news-articles/njbca
- League of Women Voters, agreement re July 7, 2020 primary signature-match process: https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/agreement-new-jersey-lawsuit-will-establish-fair-ballot-signature-match
- NJ canvass/certification timing (N.J.S.A. 19:19 series), NJ DOS press release on certification process: https://www.nj.gov/state/press-2021-1104.shtml

*Compiled 2026-06-25. DRAFT — pending SME verification.*

## examples/example-signature-mismatch.md
# Example output: signature-mismatch cure notice (New Jersey)

> Illustrative output. The deadline and process trace to `references/`, which are
> DRAFT pending SME verification. The county board must confirm the concrete
> cure-by date from this election's certification schedule before sending.

## The situation (as given to the skill)

> "NJ. A mail-in ballot in [County] came in with a signature that doesn't match
> the registration record. Need a cure notice. Election was [date]."

## Source stamp (for the office's records)

- Authority: N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b) (NJ Ballot Cure Act, P.L.2020 c.70).
- Deadline rule: cure form must be **received not later than 48 hours before final
  certification** (N.J.S.A. 19:63-17(b)(2)).
- Verified as of: 2026-06-25. **DRAFT, pending SME verification.**

## Voter-facing notice (draft for the board to review & sign)

**You can still make your ballot count. Here's how.**

Dear [Voter name],

Your vote-by-mail ballot for the [date] election was received, but **the signature
on the certificate envelope did not match the signature we have on file** for your
voter registration. The good news: you can fix this, and your ballot will then be
counted.

**To fix it:** complete, sign, and date the enclosed **Cure Form**, and return it
to the [County] Board of Elections by **any** of these methods:
- In person at [board address]
- By mail to [board address]
- By fax to [board fax]
- By email to [board email]

**Deadline:** Your completed Cure Form must be **received by [exact date and
time: 48 hours before this election's final certification; CONFIRM with the
board]**. Please return it as soon as you can; if mailing, allow time for
delivery.

Once we receive your completed form and confirm your identity, **your ballot will
be counted** despite the signature question. If you have any questions, call us at
[board phone].

Thank you for voting.

[County] Board of Elections

## Confirm-before-send checklist

- [ ] **Deadline date/time** computed from this election's final-certification
      date, minus 48 hours. *(The single most important field; verify.)*
- [ ] Cure Form enclosed, **pre-printed with the voter's name**.
- [ ] All four return methods listed with correct board contact details.
- [ ] Sent by mail or email **within 24 hours** of the rejection decision; phone
      attempt made if a number is on file.
- [ ] Defect correctly identified as **non-matching signature** (not "missing").

## What this example demonstrates

- The voter's **action** leads; the explanation follows.
- The deadline is presented as a concrete field but **explicitly flagged for the
  board to confirm.** The skill never invents the date.
- Tone is reassuring and non-alarming; no implication the vote is lost.
- The board's statutory duties (24-hour notice, phone attempt) are surfaced in the
  checklist.