What happens if the voter fails to sign the ballot envelope?

When a voter fails to sign the ballot envelope, the ballot is considered invalid. This requirement for a signature serves as a crucial component of the verification process to ensure that the ballot is legitimate and linked to the voter's identity. The signature acts as a form of authentication, confirming that the individual submitting the ballot is indeed the registered voter entitled to cast it. Without the signature, there is no way to verify the voter's identity, which can undermine the integrity of the election process. Therefore, the absence of a signature means that the ballot does not meet the necessary legal criteria to be counted.

By contrast, if the ballot were to be counted without a signature or marked valid, it would compromise election security and the principle of ensuring that only eligible voters participate in the electoral process. The potential consequences of invalidating a ballot due to missing signatures are significant, as it highlights the importance of strict adherence to voting laws and regulations. Thus, a missing signature leads directly to the classification of the ballot as not valid.