MCALLEN – The city of McAllen put together a signature verification committee after receiving an unusually large number of mail-in ballot applications.

McAllen City Secretary Perla Lara said the city has received a total number of 546 mail-in ballot applications.

During the 2015 elections, the city received less than 40 mail-in ballots and in 2013 less than 30.

Previous years the early voting ballot board counts each mail-in ballot and verifies signatures on the same day.

Lara said enacting the committee gives the city an extra day just to check signatures to prevent fraudulent voting.

She said the committee will meet on May 5 to verify all 546 signatures.