The Anchorage Election Commission rejected 455 ballots in the April 2025 election because signatures on ballot envelopes did not match voter registration records, staff reported during a work session Wednesday. The signature verification failures represented the largest category among the 815 total ballot rejections in the election.

All affected voters received cure letters and contact attempts via phone or email but did not respond, according to election officials. Each rejected signature was reviewed by at least two trained staff members, and some were examined by as many as six to eight people including the core team and review and resolution team. The signature verification team received training from a forensic document examiner.

The 455 rejections fell between recent election totals. Last year the commission rejected 386 ballots for signature mismatches, while in 2024 the number reached 602.

Commissioners debated whether some scribbles on ballot envelopes could qualify as marks that would be valid with witness verification. Staff maintained the markings were attempted signatures that did not match voter registration records, not marks as defined by municipal code.

Under Anchorage code, a mark such as an X can substitute for a signature if witnessed, but only when the voter cannot write a signature. Staff determined the rejected ballots contained attempted signatures that failed verification standards, not marks.

The commission pulled two ballots from the rejection category during the work session, reducing the final count to 453.

The ballot rejections come as a recount is underway for Assembly District 4, Seat G, where incumbent Dave Donley trails challenger Janice Park by 26 votes. The recount began April 24, one day after the commission held a public session of canvass on April 23, 2025 to review rejected mail-in ballots.

A new local signature database has been credited with reducing signature match rejections in recent Anchorage elections.

The commission will vote on the rejections during its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday.