The Transparency Foundation addresses voter questions about election integrity and offers path to make a difference in upcoming election
Are you concerned with election integrity in California? You’re not alone.
Carl DeMaio, chairman of the non-profit, non-partisan Transparency Foundation, says that his office received numerous complaints about suspicious activity during the 2020 and 2021 cycles.
“We’ve been tracking suspicious ballots and other election problems for some time, and we’ve been surprised at the amount of high-risk or erroneous ballots,” said DeMaio. “But that doesn’t mean that it’s hopeless and that we shouldn’t vote or get involved — to the contrary, we need more help than ever to shine a a light on the electoral process and restore public trust in our democracy,” he continued.
DeMaio pointed the Transparency Foundation’s recent efforts to audit California’s voter rolls to identify whether ineligible individuals are registered to vote. The first phase of the audit was conducted among a sample of 7.1% of voters currently listed as an eligible voter on California’s voter rolls. Based just on the 7.1% sample, the study has found:
- 83,725 high-risk ballots: Voters who received a ballot in the 2021 Recall Election who haven’t voted since at least 2016 and their legal address status is in question (Statewide possible count: 1.18 million high-risk ballots)
- 910 confirmed erroneous ballots: Voters who received a ballot in the Recall election even though they are listed on the US Postal Service’s National Change of Address (NCOA) database as having moved from the residence listed on their voter registration (Statewide possible count: 12,816 confirmed erroneous ballots)
- 17,715 questionable votes: Voters who registered years ago, and never voted in subsequent elections, but suddenly returned a ballot during the 2021 Recall Election. (2,792 never voted since March 1, 2016; 4,734 never voted since March 1, 2018; 10,189 never voted since March 1, 2020) (Statewide possible count: 249,507 questionable votes)
DeMaio says the results are troubling, but that they indicate the need for elections officials dedicated to following the law.
“If you’re concerned about these issues, the best way to help is to get a seat at the table where ballots are being counted and ensure that they’re counted correctly and legally,” said DeMaio.
According to DeMaio, there are two main ways to help at the elections office.
The first is to get a job. Your local Registrar of Voters is hiring individuals to work at Vote Centers for the June 2022 Statewide Primary Election. Employees will manage Vote Center locations and will be expected to work throughout the Primary Election as in-person voting begins. For more information and to apply, check with your local Registrar of Voters.
The second way is to be a nonpartisan election monitor. These unpaid volunteer positions exist to aid in the fight for election integrity and do not work for any county governments. You can sign up for a volunteer shift at ElectionIntegrityCA.com
“We can make a difference and restore election integrity if you get involved,” said DeMaio. “Our campaign to secure the vote needs your support — join the fight today,” he concluded.
Join the Fight: Secure the Vote in CA 2022
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