Elections
Some Fresno County Voter Information Guides Lost or Delayed
As residents gear up for the Nov. 8 election, some Fresno County voters have yet to receive their voter information guides.
Fresno County Clerk and Registrar of Voters James Kus says some voter information guides will go out as late as Oct. 18.
In addition, about 200 copies of the Fresno County Voter Information Guide and four copies of the State Voter Information Guide were found in a recycling dumpster in the Tower District.
How Did the Voter Guides Get Lost?
Kus says the voting materials were properly sent out by elections workers through the U.S. Postal Service. The county, he said, is working with USPS to determine how the 200 Fresno voting guides ended up in the trash on Friday, Oct. 14.
All of the voters whose guides were dumped will receive new copies, Kus said.
Kus also said that his office has received no other reports of dumped or lost voter guides.
Voters Eager to Get Their Ballots
Kus says the department is receiving calls about when the early voting ballots will reach residences.
“This happens every election and began before any election materials were even mailed this election,” said Kus.
The department urges voters to be patient before requesting new voting materials.
“With the federal holiday last week, we are encouraging callers to wait until Wednesday before requesting replacement materials,” said Kuz. “But we will absolutely send new voting materials to anyone that wants them ASAP.”
Last Minute Measures, Longer Guides Cause Delays
Kus says part of the delay for this year’s voting guides is attributed to its bigger size and ballot measures that were added late in the election cycle.
For example, the proposal for Measure C was delivered to the department on Aug. 8, which was the last day to make the November election.
“The combination of the late inclusion of Measure C and overall length of the voter information guide has pushed our mailing of the finished guides later in our preferred distribution window,” said Kus.
This year’s November county voter guide is roughly twice as long as the June version.
Related Story: Be Informed Before You Vote With Nonpartisan CalMatters Guide
Access the Guide Online
Anyone who wants to read the guide before it arrives can review it online here.
Where Can You Vote?
In-person voting is available at the county clerk’s main office in downtown Fresno at 2221 Kern St. during regular business hours.
Starting Saturday, Oct. 29, 10 voting centers will be open every day until Election Day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. An additional 42 four-day voting centers will open on Saturday, Nov. 5, with hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On election day, all voting centers in the county, including the downtown office, will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for in-person voting.
You can locate all of the voting centers and ballot drop boxes at this link.
(GV Wire/David Rodriguez)
