On the eve of the California special election, a Sacramento voter received two ballots in the mail, raising concerns about the voting process. “I was going to vote today,” said Robin Baker. She was confused when she realized two ballots arrived in the mail. She explained that she received one ballot mailed on Sept. 27 and another on Oct. 9.Baker noted that she renewed her driver’s license at the DMV during this period but did not make any changes to her address or political party, nor did she re-register to vote or request a ballot. Sacramento County Elections officials said voters can request replacement ballots if lost or damaged, and they are automatically generated when changes are made to a voter’s registration. That can happen during a driver’s license renewal, but only if the voter makes changes. Baker said she made zero changes, and she’s concerned about the duplication.”There’s a confusion for me as a voter, did my vote count, or do I get both of them? And then there’s also how much this is costing the state of California,” Baker said. Another voter, John, expressed concerns about election integrity.”If that’s a mistake, I shouldn’t get two ballots,” he said. “Every one of us should try to be conscious and be right in ourselves and doing what is right.”Election officials said the original ballot is now voided and Baker should use the second ballot. Baker remains concerned about the process.”I care about our country. I care about elections. I believe in them. I believe in a process. But I’m worried that this isn’t really working very well,” she said.The Secretary of State’s office assured that, regardless of the situation, only one ballot per person will be counted. However, the DMV could not provide information on what happened with Baker’s driver’s license renewal and why she was re-registered to vote without her knowledge.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
On the eve of the California special election, a Sacramento voter received two ballots in the mail, raising concerns about the voting process.
“I was going to vote today,” said Robin Baker. She was confused when she realized two ballots arrived in the mail. She explained that she received one ballot mailed on Sept. 27 and another on Oct. 9.
Baker noted that she renewed her driver’s license at the DMV during this period but did not make any changes to her address or political party, nor did she re-register to vote or request a ballot.
Sacramento County Elections officials said voters can request replacement ballots if lost or damaged, and they are automatically generated when changes are made to a voter’s registration. That can happen during a driver’s license renewal, but only if the voter makes changes. Baker said she made zero changes, and she’s concerned about the duplication.
“There’s a confusion for me as a voter, did my vote count, or do I get both of them? And then there’s also how much this is costing the state of California,” Baker said.
Another voter, John, expressed concerns about election integrity.
“If that’s a mistake, I shouldn’t get two ballots,” he said. “Every one of us should try to be conscious and be right in ourselves and doing what is right.”
Election officials said the original ballot is now voided and Baker should use the second ballot. Baker remains concerned about the process.
“I care about our country. I care about elections. I believe in them. I believe in a process. But I’m worried that this isn’t really working very well,” she said.
The Secretary of State’s office assured that, regardless of the situation, only one ballot per person will be counted. However, the DMV could not provide information on what happened with Baker’s driver’s license renewal and why she was re-registered to vote without her knowledge.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel