On Eve of March 5 Primary, Shasta County Election Office Talks Security, Election Monitors, Turnout

Assistant County Clerk and Registrar of Voters, Joanna Francescut speaks to a member of the press via teleconference on March 4, 2024. Photo by Annelise Pierce.

The Shasta County Elections Office held a brief press conference on Monday, March 4, as community members cast votes on machines not far away. 

Speaking to just three members of the press, Assistant County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Joanna Francescut said she expects at least one state election observer to be on the ground in Shasta County on Tuesday as voters cast their ballots in the March 5 primary.

“There’s typically monitors at each election from the Secretary of State’s Office,” Francescut said. “That’s not an abnormal thing. I expect at least one member of their staff to be here.”

During Shasta County’s fall 2023 election, disability advocates asked the Secretary of State’s Office to send monitors to the county to ensure that elections were conducted in a free and fair manner. The call for help came after many months of uncertainty about how Shasta County’s votes would be counted and whether voters with disabilities would have access to machines to vote as required by law under America’s federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). State observers showed up in Shasta County on November 7, 2023. Their spokesperson called that election, “beautifully old school uneventful,” saying he and other observers had not seen anything concerning to report at the state level.

Federal election monitors can also be deployed to locations nationwide to monitor for breaches of voting rights, according to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division website. Asked whether any federal monitors might also be present to observe this election process, Francescut said simply, “I can’t comment on that right now.” Shasta Scout has also reached out to the DOJ and is pending a response.

There have been election security concerns in Shasta County since the 2020 presidential election and Francescut emphasized during the press release that she is committed to ensuring the safety and security of both voters and elections staff.

“We’re always wanting secure elections. And I want my staff to feel confident that they are protected while they’re doing their roles in this office . . . So we’re continuously updating our processes,” Francescut said, “to ensure that every person who wants to observe the process has a transparent view and that our staff are safe and secure in completing their tasks.”

Observers will be welcome at the Elections Office tomorrow, March 5, in approved areas and when accompanied by Elections Office staff. Contracted private security and two law enforcement officers from the Sheriff’s Department will also be on site on the evening of March 5, Francescut said, as ballots are counted.

As is usual since 2022, the Elections Office has also obtained a permit to close off the back alleyway behind the building as ballots come in from the precincts and are received by staff. The Redding Police Department will also be running additional patrols in the area on election night to provide support, Francescut said. 

So far this election, voter turnout has been lower than in the last presidential primary election, held in 2020. About 20,000 ballots have been received so far, which, Francescut said roughly matches the number received prior to election day during both the 2016 and 2012 presidential primary elections. She said that number comprises about 18% of all Shasta County ballots.

Have questions, concerns, or comments? Reach out to us: editor@shastascout.org.