FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A striking split-screen unfolding before the cameras outside City Hall.
Council President Mike Karbassi, in one of his first events as a candidate to be the county’s election chief, criticized the incumbent and his opponent, James Kus.
Kus was right there, watching in an unplanned visit. He told Action News he found out about the event and wanted to walk over from his office in downtown Fresno.
“In November of 2024, 300 voters in our county received incorrect ballots before the election was certified,” Karbassi said.
Karbassi, taking Kus to task, highlights everything from that ballot blunder Action News first broke, to a dangling key left in an election box and what he calls “zombie ballots.”
RELATED: Fresno Co. election officials knew about scope of ballot blunder before certifying the election
“There are folks out there who reported receiving duplicate ballots. Not just one or two, but even more,” Karbassi said. “All preventable by proper voter roll management, which is something that hasn’t happened in the past six years.”
Kus then counterprogrammed Karbassi by holding an impromptu Q&A and speaking even longer.
This time, the Council President standing in the back.
“I think this kind of shows where Mr. Karbassi doesn’t understand the legal requirements in the election process,” Kus said.
The elections’ chief firing back on the so-called “zombie ballots.”
“Every time they update their name, their address, their political party, we are required by law to send them a new ballot,” he said.
The tense back-and-forth all unfolding with just one week until Election Day.
90,000 voters in Fresno County alone have already cast their ballots.
And now the Department of Justice is preparing to send federal election monitors to local polls.
“The reason why they target us is because of these issues. And that needs to be discussed,” Karbassi said.
In an unprecedented move, Karbassi is directing voters to contact him about election issues, even setting up a designated form on his campaign website. He says he’s already heard from residents.
“It’s not lost on any of us that the Fresno County Clerk and Registrar is here now. Has there been any communication? Have you raised these issues to him directly?” Action News asked.
“Nope. We’ve only talked a couple of times,” Karbassi responded.
The current elections’ chief appearing unmoved through it all.
“We are open and ready to welcome any observer, whether it be state, local, or federal,” Kus said.
After raising all those concerns, Karbassi tells Action News he would not be observing the polls himself on Election Day.
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