@Victoria33
"Evaluate," yes. "Count," no. And that is how it worked in my smaller County. One would almost think Maricopa did not validate the ballots in advance in order to create more confusion and a backlog at the tabulation centers on purpose.
@Cyber LibertyLet me make this clearer since you use the words "evaluate", "count".
The by mail ballot board in Texas and other states (but not all states)
evaluate mail ballots before election day and finish early on voting day
evaluating mail ballots that come in on election day.
As soon on "election day" the evaluation is complete, the "ballots", are sent to the counting station to be "counted". The paper work of the board is given to the election administrator and kept for many months in a locked room with other election materials that must be kept.
Also, the Judge of the board must send a notice to each voter whose mail ballot was not counted, telling the voter why the ballot was rejected. The Judge's phone number must be on the notice. Some years I felt like leaving the county for a few days after sending those notices with my phone number.