Clerk-Recorder’s Office prepares for upcoming election, answers questions
It’s nearing Election Day and the Lassen County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is busy preparing for the upcoming event and answering the questions of local voters.
“We’ve been receiving a lot of questions in our office regarding the upcoming all mail ballot election,” Sarah Howe, senior recorder at the Lassen County Clerk-Recorder’s Office, told the Lassen County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Sept. 28.
This year, California will conduct an all mail ballot election for the Nov. 3 Presidential Election, Howe said, and every eligible registered voter will be mailed a ballot to their mailing address.
The senior recorder also mentioned voters do have choices on how to cast their vote.
“Voters have choices. When you receive your mail ballot you will have a return envelope. You can either return it postage paid in the envelope that you were issued, or you can drop it off at two drop boxes,” Howe explained.
The two drive-up drop boxes will be located behind the Historic Courthouse behind the old jail in the alley and at the Janesville Fire Hall, off of Main Street in Janesville. Both open Monday, Oct. 5, and Howe said both drop boxes would be checked daily for ballots and locked at 8 p.m. on election night.
Howe also said if anyone has questions, or wishes to physically vote in person, they can stop by the Lassen County Clerk-Recorder’s Office, located in the annex behind the Historic Courthouse on South Lassen Street.
She also noted there will be a voting assistance center set up in Janesville, along with the center at the Clerk-Recorder’s Office, where voters can deposit their ballot to a person directly or get assistance voting. The voting assistance centers will be staffed starting 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, Sunday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 2. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, the centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Speaking to the supervisors, Howe said, “If people are asking any questions, or have any issues with anything, have them contact us directly … We’re more than happy to let them know the process, how we’re going to process their ballots, and what happens during elections.”
The office can be reached at 251-8217.
Howe said residents could register and vote up until Election Day; however, they will be considered a conditional voter until the office determines if they have voted already or if they are registered elsewhere.
Supervisor Chris Gallagher asked what the thought process was of setting up the voting assistance centers in Susanville and Janesville and not elsewhere in the county.
Howe responded saying the office looked at the precincts and the percentage for turnout for in-person voting, and the largest percentage where people showed up to the polls was Janesville, which prompted the decision to add the center there.
