Human error to blame for Fresno County ballot blunder that left 11 voters with wrong ballots

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno County predetermination officials person confirmed that quality mistake is to blasted for a ballot blunder that near astatine slightest 11 voters with the incorrect ballot.

"I consciousness similar I'm a disenfranchised voting person," Rick Steitz told Action News. He lives successful Fresno City Council District 2, but his ballot included the contention for District 6.

"It showed that Roger Bonakdar and Nick Richardson were connected the ballot arsenic my councilmembers," Steitz said.

Action News reviewed the predetermination materials Steitz received. Both his signifier ballot and vote-by-mail ballot were wrong. The ballot helium formed astatine a ballot center, helium says, was incorrect, too.

"I assumed that the territory boundaries had changed," Steitz said.

It was not until Election Night -- aft Steitz voted -- erstwhile helium realized determination was a mistake. He contacted the Fresno County Elections Office connected November 6.

"They were going to notation my enquiry to the IT department," Steitz said. "I asked them, 'Well, what would they person to bash with anything?' 'Well, they're going to bash an investigation.' I said, 'There's nary probe to beryllium done. I adjacent got the grounds successful my hand.'"

Steitz ne'er heard back, truthful helium contacted Action News connected Monday. We went to Fresno County Clerk and Registrar of Voters James Kus. Within hours, helium confirmed the error.

"We did place 11 radical that this happened to," Kus said. He explained that an predetermination strategy flagged astir a 1000 addresses that showed conflicting precincts. A quality past had to verify each 1 -- a process that failed for astatine slightest 11.

"They were really assigned to an incorrect registration precinct," Kus said. "And due to the fact that of that, that meant they got an incorrect ballot."

Dr. Lisa Bryant studies predetermination medication astatine Fresno State. She says the quality reappraisal would person been a tedious process including code checks for assorted races.

"They're yet checking that these individuals are getting the close ballot for each of the districts that they unrecorded in," Bryant said. "So it tin beryllium a analyzable and onerous process."

Bryant says determination volition ever beryllium immoderate grade of error. The region probe is inactive underway arsenic Kus tries to recognize the scope.

"So, it could grow?" Action News asked.

"It is possible," Kus said. "We are not aware, astatine this time, of immoderate different elector that is affected by this issue."

Kus expects to person an update by Friday. In the meantime, Steitz says helium has much questions than answers and wants to cognize whether helium tin ballot again.

Since ballots are formed successful secret, though, Kus says determination is nary mode to spell backmost and close the mistake.

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