ROV Curtis claims scheduling issues are preventing him from complying with state law to shred November 2024 ballots
The ballots were supposed to be retained only through Sept. 5, but they still haven’t been destroyed, allegedly due to a series of scheduling missteps and delays.
Ballots from the November 2024 election, which were supposed to be destroyed earlier this month, are scheduled to be shredded on Sept. 30, said Shasta County Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis.
State elections code explains that voted ballots from federal elections are required to be destroyed or recycled 22 months after the election occurs. For the November 2024 election, the retention period ended on Sept. 5 — but the ballots are still intact.
Curtis acknowledged in a press release yesterday that the ballots should’ve been shredded on the fifth but claimed a scheduler didn’t arrange for them to be shredded until nearly a week after the deadline, on the 11th.
On Sept. 9, litigation was filed to delay the destruction of the ballots, so Curtis said he contacted Shasta County Counsel and the Secretary of State’s Office to see if he should hold off on shredding the documents.
Around noon on Sept. 11, he told a reporter he had not yet received advice from county counsel or the secretary of state and had already contacted the shredding company to tell them to hold off on shredding the ballots.
In the press release, Curtis explained that he did not learn until later that afternoon that legal counsel was instructing him to move forward with the shred as planned. When he contacted the shred company, he allegedly was told there was no record of the scheduler setting up the appointment to shred the ballots, and the next available shred date wasn’t until Sept. 30.
Curtis did not acknowledge in the press release that the state-mandated retention period for the November 2024 ballots ended almost two weeks ago, something county attorney Joseph Larmour pointed out during a county board meeting on Tuesday, saying “every day past the 22 months that those documents exist is a violation of law.”
Instead, Curtis opined that he is “a little surprised that so many people are in such a big hurry to shred the election.” He’s made unsubstantiated claims this year that there were irregularities with both the November 2024 election and the June 2026 election, and he’s said that he wants federal authorities to investigate both sets of ballots.
“If the 2026 [ballots] show up to be bad, then they might have a nexus to look at the 2024 [ballots],” Curtis said during an interview last week. “If the 2024s are shredded prior to that, then they don’t.”
Curtis received a subpoena about a week ago to testify before a federal grand jury on Sept. 24 and bring with him tens of thousands of voted ballots from the June 2026 election. That’s a week before Curtis is now slated to shred the ballots from November 2024. Both sets of ballots are allegedly locked in the same room at the Market Street elections office.
Curtis said in an interview last week that the subpoena was an outcome he was hoping for, aside from the fact that he now has to figure out how to safely transport an abundance of election-related materials to Sacramento.
The litigation that attempted to delay the destruction of the November 2024 ballots, which was filed by an election activist named Arne List, has failed in court after a second hearing yesterday, the county confirmed today.
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Introductory Law 101: ignorance is no defense. That is one of the first things a law student learns in law school. Maybe Curtis wasn’t listening in his first year law class that day. Curtis’ denial of knowledge is astonishing. Of course he knows what he is doing, and he is laughing that BOS are buying his BS.
The best course of action would be for the BOS to figure out how to suspend him or remove him, physically, and his minions too, before the November election date.
Isn’t knowing the “destroy by date” one of his jobs as county clerk?
He should be the one ensure of the law is followed not some staffer.
It is after all why he gets paid $ 150k a year for yet the likes of Pedro del Norte don’t appear to have a problem with that.
He can delegate certain functions such as booking industrial shredders (or another method of destruction) but je should be the one making sure it happens,
Why are you in such a hurry to have these ballots destroyed?
They’re over 22 months old bro.
Does anyone remember when you couldn’t name the ROV for Shasta County? How many years that the incumbant ran unopposed because nobody else wanted the job? Now this…
I am sorry to be a dullard but: If it is correct that an appointed official can break the law with impunity and continue to openly break the law without losing their job that makes no sense. Tina Peters was removed by the Secretary of State in Colorado. Who would need to contact the State to request action on this issue. Wouldn’t that be the BOS who appointed him?
Curtis has to be removed by the voters either in a regular election (this has happened, but he gets to finish his current term), or in a recall election (not enough time to get it on the November ballot). The state legislature can impeach statewide office holders, but not County office holders. The other avenue is for Curtis to be convicted of a felony, which triggers immediate removal from office, but again, there isn’t enough time to charge and convict him before November, or even January when his term expires—even if our DA had the stomach for that, which she doesn’t.
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My proposed interim solution would be for the BOS to trespass Curtis from County properties and change the locks on the ROV office doors. They could also terminate the employment of his Assistant ROV and his loony staff allies without cause. Let Curtis ride out his term at home in his bathrobe and slippers. Sadly, this can’t happen with the current MAGA/MAHA/M4L BOS majority.
I guess I would ask you the same question! Why are you in such a hurry to have these ballots destroyed?
I AM SO SICK OF THIS CURTIS GUY! Nothing but negative actions. I’ll be so glad/relieved when he’s gone!
Clint Curtis has become an outright embarrassment to our illustrious Board of Supervisors that appointed him. And our Board of Supervisors has become an outright embarrassment to those of us who elected them.
It’s past the time when we should have put an end to this circus.
Elect right-wing morons, you wind up with more right-wing morons, botching all they touch…
In the end it’s all Clint’s fault cuz he ain’t from here! Welcome to XX don’t let the door hit ya when you’re all used up.
Hey Clint, just wanted to pass along a little friendly advice. Despite your claims, I still haven’t been contacted by any governmental investigative agency by any means (carrier pigeon, email, in-person, etc.) regarding my tenure as ROV. You, however, apparently have been contacted about yours. Just remember, never lie to a federal investigator, even in that glib, greasy, used-car-salesman tone you use for every utterance. Ask the charming Martha Stewart if “It’s a good thing.”
Then, again, maybe you’d like to remain in California a bit longer. I hear the ClubFed in Lompoc is fairly posh as prisons go.
Mr Toller, you can add “smarmy” to your list.
#LMAO Tom!!! It may be too late with that lying to federal agents thing.
Tom Toller stayed just long enough to spike his pension. Then he quit and left us with Clint Curtis. Thanks Tom.
Tom did a great job despite board passing over the more qualified applicants. Board Supes Crye, Kelstrom and Harmon are 100% responsible for the hot mess in our election office. They had two chances to do what Shasta County voters finally did.-make Joanna Francescut our county clerk. Voters are clearly tired of all the MAGA bs the board has been spreading over Shasta County for the last six years.
Jenny, the blame for Clint Curtis’ presence in Shasta County lies squarely with Kevin Crye, Chris Kelstrom, Corkey Harmon and Patrick Jones.
Susane, I completely agree. I had the pleasure of briefly talking with Tom, and after some suspicion, I came to understand that he has the best intentions for Shasta County and, just as importantly, the law! Many people have to step back from jobs for health reasons.
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Crye-Mr. Pilliow-Jones -Harmon and Kelstorm are the clowns that brought the Curtis circus to town to do their far-right extreme partisan Tina Peters tRumpian B— S–T bidding all over our elections. Of course, Hobbs-Crye-Jones-Curtis lost their butt in the elections, and their avatar, the court-adjudicated rapist, now has an approval rating in the Reuters/Ipsos Poll of 32% and disapproval of 66%.
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Curtis needs to be taken to court and replaced ASAP, as the November 3, 2026 elections are 42 DAYS from now, and some of Curtis’ election-lying deniers are still handling ballots!
Curtis was appointed by Crye, Kelstrom and Harmon, the Curly, Larry and Moe of Shasta County politics(work out for yourself which is which) over a much more qualified candidate. Mr. Toller had no control whatsoever over this decision. He also had the intellectual honesty to admit, after being in the job, that he didn’t understand how it really worked before he took it. You might try the same level of integrity.
Selah
Tom, I like all of your post except for “Club Fed.” Like Tina Peters, Curtis needs to be charged with and convicted of state crimes and be sent to state prison. If convicted of federal crimes, he’ll be pardoned straight away by Orange Mussolini.
Aside to Clink Curtis: The scheduling problem is a problem of your own making. You created the stumbling blocks you’re now tripping over.
Tom, thanks for chiming in. But man, either this guy’s elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top, or maybe he’s smoking too many Fruit Loops, but wouldn’t blatantly admitting a violation of election law put an attorney’s license at risk? This clown-car nonsense just doesn’t make any sense.
Put this nut behind bars before he ruins poor people’s lives by suing them as he plans on doing once he leaves his post ! He has got one hell of a criminal mind ! The devils advocate comes to mind !
Your inability to conduct a fair collection is at stake here. Don’t speak too loudly, it makes you look extremely guilty. If he has done something wrong, why has the DHS the FBI and other agencies been in personal contact with him and have removed the ballots from that room? If there’s nothing wrong, there’s nothing wrong but if there is you’re up shit creek.
Most importantly is that the games Curtis is playing with our elections is now on the table for all to see and understand that these childish games of lies and deception are the same games Trump has been playing since Jan 6.
“…Curtis opined that he is “a little surprised that so many people are in such a big hurry to shred the election.”. And there it is. Any bets on how fast we get to “What are they trying to hide?”?
Selah
After the silly scheme by Clint’s newfound “My daddy was an F.B.I. agent!” sidekick failed miserably in court last week, Curtis openly admits he is breaking election law, essentially laughing at California and Shasta County codes and laws while thumbing his nose at Shasta County citizens, essentially saying, “My dog peed on it… So, what? What are you going to do about it?” The answer? Most likely, nothing… It’s doubtful anyone will even call the shredding company; not that it matters; a broken law is a broken law.
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A quick look shows at least four mobile shredding companies certified for this work in Redding alone, and a slew of them throughout the North State! More than likely, Curtis knew for many months that the Nov. 2024 ballots would, by law, need to be disposed of by Sep. 05, 2026. And It’s also extremely believable that Curtis never intended to follow the law. Why?
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It could very well be that the C. Curtis, L. Hobbs – P. Jones election-lying fraternity, which includes Crye, Corky, and Kelstorm (who last week blocked any supervisors’ investigation into Clint’s mayhem), were hoping the DOJ or DHS would swoop in, collect the ballots, and proclaim, “Well, by golly, gee-wiz, Mr. Curtis, P. Plumb, and L. Hobbs!! You were right all along! There has been election fraud in Shasta County!” Then maybe even the court-adjunct rapist–34-count convicted felon will finally pick up that attempted phone call from Curtis and ride to Shasta County’s MAGA rescue! Mind-boggling and unbelievable; maybe delusional? Sure, you bet, but that’s how Hobbs, Jones, Curtis, Crye, Corky, Kelstorm, and Trump roll.
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Here’s a question for County Counsel Larmour: Are the supervisors who have refused to act on any of Curtis’ illegal activity themselves guilty of violating the law by aiding and abetting a crime?
Another illegal move ala Donald Trump. The corruption in this county is astounding. The law is clear, obey it.
When was this law enacted?
“…Right now, I’m working really hard just to review and analyze the California election laws and processes in place…When I step into the role on January 4th, I can just hit the ground running and get right to work, preparing and getting staff back to basics…”
Clerk-elect Joanna Francescut
https://krcrtv.com/news/local/francescut-looks-to-bring-shasta-county-elections-office-back-to-basics
Mrs. Francescut is just a joke: her latest comments on KRCR are clear indicators of cowardice while dodging ongoing events at the county’s Registrar of Voter and Elections Department, besides being totally detached with the realities of Shasta County (a cesspool of corruption, incompetence and wasteful spending).
Another $150K per year of taxpayers money will be wasted on an individual like Joanna Francescut, who has ZERO clue about leading a public office – the only ones who may benefit from her election are the ones who managed Francescut’s campaign (access to government contracts via third parties).
Are you really this obtuse? Francescut has no authority until she takes office, and she is signaling the proper approach. If she makes any statements about the Curtis clown show, all she will do is provide Clint the Clown with ammunition to accuse her of undermining his “authoritah”. After 17 years she has no clue how the office should run. Right. Stop embarassing yourself, you are the one who is clueless.
Selah
Why don’t you criticize the salary given to Curtis, a person who actually has no clue about leading a public office, a person who actually is responsible for the election mess in our county. You consistently post under fake names saying it’s all the fault of a person who has no responsibility. If this gets you off, go for it. But someday, try to grow up. After all, elections are for adults.
It would be inappropriate for Joanna to comment on Clint’s incompetence, instead focusing on staying up to date on election law changes she will implement as there are many every year. Contrary to what you say, she has years of election administration experience cross-training on all the various tasks involved in overseeing elections. Not sure who you believe will benefit from government contracts she initiates and board approves since most of those are with companies like Hart and Runbeck that are not located in Shasta County. You sound like one of the disgruntled election deniers watching the house of cards you constructed collapse.
You can throw into that waist a lot more with the likes of Matt plumber and Erin Resner
Glad to see that the elections office is running like a well-oiled machine. Not! Seems like everything that Curtis does is accompanied by excuses, blame-shifting, and lies. Could it be that he’s incompetent? Ya think?
The dog ate my homework.
If Curtis is breaking the law why doesn’t the BOS remove him from the position that Kelstrom, Crye and PJ appointed him to? Your circus, your monkey.
PSA!
THE SCBOS CANNOT REMOVE CURTIS. FULL STOP.
Really kind of sad that this has been answered several times but it keeps being brought up over and over again.
This one has been asked, and answered. (any number of times) Curtis’ position is an elected one and is NOT subject to ‘removal’ by the board. The only time the board enters the equation is in the event of vacancy (due resignation – as in Toller stepping away mid-term – or death). The remainder of the time, the person residing in this office is entirely in the hands of the voters.
But he wasn’t elected into the post. He was appointed to it by the BOS.
If the post is an elected one then surely a special election should have been held with the deputy made acting interim clerk and not appointing someone from out of state with zero experience of actually running election anywhere and certainly not in California..
Curtis … claimed a scheduler didn’t arrange for them to be shredded
Who’s running this place anyway? Curtis can call to cancel the shredding but not to arrange it in the first place? Why is it always somebody else’s fault when he doesn’t do his job?
Curtis, as usual, is marching on his own junk. He has no standing to contest the validity of the 2024 election, which he certified. He’s illegally defying state law.
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Regarding the 2026 election, which he also certified, he has presented zero evidence that it was queered in some way. At this point, he’s just pissing in the punchbowl out of spite.
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Dude needs to spend time in state prison as a warning to other MAGA election fabulists and monkey-wrenchers.
In other words, he breached his oath to uphold state and federal election laws in favor of placating a fellow election denier? My hope is felony criminal charges are filed against Curtis once he packs up his dog and pony show in January for the return trip to Florida and we all get to watch him do the Tina Peters perp walk. And if convicted, Xavier will not fold like an umbrella and commute his sentence like the Governor of Colorado did after threats by Trump.