California DOJ Is Monitoring Shasta County Elections After Concerns of “Aggressive” Observers, Elections Official Says

This is a developing story.

11.5.24 8:52 pm: We have updated the story to include a response from California’s Attorney General.

Registrar of Voters Tom Toller told the press during a midday conference today, November 5, that the California Department of Justice has arrived in Shasta County to monitor elections, at his request.

A steady stream of observers has been showing up to the Elections Office this week to independently monitor staff as they begin processing ballots. Toller said the decision to involve the state DOJ was a response to concerns from staff that some observers behavior has become “aggressive.”

“In some cases,” Toller continued, staff “feel threatened, insecure. I want to assure their safety, and I want to assure that we have a tone of civility.”

California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, has not made any specific statements regarding Shasta County. He joined a bipartisan coalition of 51 other attorneys general yesterday, November 4, in condemning any acts of violence related to elections.

“We call upon every American to vote, participate in civil discourse and, above all, respect the integrity of the democratic process,” Bonta and others wrote.

“Let us come together after this election not divided by outcomes but united in our shared commitment to the rule of law and safety of all Americans. Violence has no place in the democratic process; we will exercise our authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it.”

Department of Justice staff responded to a request from Shasta Scout by saying they are aware of reports about election worker harassment and intimidation in Shasta County.

“The California Attorney General’s Office is assisting the County by offering additional resources and staff,” a spokesperson said. “We are coordinating closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Secretary of State’s Office.”

Laura Hobbs, an election activist who makes frequent public statements regarding her belief that election misconduct is occurring in Shasta County, was present at today’s press conference and immediately pushed back on Toller’s statement, pressing him to cite an example of aggressive observer behavior.

Toller refused.

“I’m not going to do that,” Toller answered briefly. “I’m going to tell you that my staff has expressed concern to me. I’m not a judge . . . I’m supporting my staff,” Toller continued. “That’s what I’m doing.”

The elections official explained that his Office’s observer policies include a “three strikes” rule, saying that any interaction with an observer that affects an individual employee enough to cause them to ask for a break will generate an automatic “strike”.

Only one observer interaction so far, Toller said, has resulted in such a strike.

“I can tell you,” Toller continued, “that’s as far as it’s gone and I hope that other observers will respect my staff and treat them civilly, understand they are people. They’re just trying to do their job . . . All they want to do is deliver a fair and impartial election for the citizens of Shasta County.”

Lori Bridgford, who refers to herself as a citizen journalist, asked Toller what protections observers were entitled to. He advised her to practice deescalation techniques and “walk away” when needed. After the press conference, Bridgford told Shasta Scout she feels she’s been “marginalized” by the “favoritism” of elections staff.

This afternoon, about 12 observers were gathered in the upstairs hallway of the Shasta County Elections Office. About half were engaged in viewing election procedures, taking notes about their observations, or asking questions of staff. The other half sat nearby, watching elections observers.

Throughout the day, four candidates for the Shasta County Board of Education were among those observing on site, including Michele Renee Tyson, Jackie LaBarbera, Dolores Lucero, and Jessica French. While LaBarbera worked with others to document ballot scanning procedures, French sat in a chair nearby. She told another observer that she was there to provide “a warm and friendly smile” to elections staff.

The ROV said that no incidents of intimidation of either voters or poll workers have been reported from Shasta County polling places so far.

However, he described one incident that involved a ballot box retrieval team that was followed back to the Elections Office today by a motorist who shouted at staff when they exited their vehicle. Toller said the individual, who has not been identified, made “baseless claims” that the ballot retrieval team had violated election laws.

“Hopefully the situation was deescalated appropriately,” Toller said, “and that is the end of the matter.”

The polls will close at 8 PM. Sheriff’s deputies are already on site. Redding police officers, Toller said, will also be “vigilantly” patrolling the neighborhood surrounding the Elections Office.

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