1. A method comprising: (a) operating a ballot envelope processing system including at least one drive device and at least one scanning device to: (a1) cause a returned ballot envelope including a voter identifier and a voter signature to be automatically driven relative to the at least one scanning device by the at least one drive device, (a2) cause the voter identifier and the voter signature to be automatically scanned by the at least one scanning device; (b) operating at least one computer to retrieve at least one stored signature correlated with the voter identifier scanned in step (a2), wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one scanning device; (c) operating the at least one computer to enable a decision to be made on verification of the voter signature, wherein the decision is based on comparison of data corresponding to the voter signature scanned in step (a2) with data corresponding to the at least one stored signature retrieved in step (b); and (d) storing data reflective of the decision.