Photo by Frank Lopez | Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi speaks in front of City Hall on Tuesday, addressing the U.S. Department of Justice’s plan to monitor Fresno County’s upcoming election.

published on October 28, 2025 – 3:18 PM
Written by Frank Lopez

Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi is alleging the U.S. Department of Justice is targeting Fresno County after the announcement it would deploy election monitors to the upcoming election.

Karbassi held a press conference in front of Fresno City Hall on Tuesday morning to discuss DOJ election monitors to Fresno County to observe the Nov. 4 election, as well as other issues county voters are facing as voting continues.

Last Friday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s announced the DOJ would monitor polls in six jurisdiction, including Fresno. Monitoring is set for the counties of Kern, Riverside, Orange, Los Angles, and Passaic County in New Jersey.

Karbassi said that out of over 3,100 counties across the nation, the six counties have been targeted due to concerns about management of local elections.

“This is not about politics, it’s entirely about accountability,” Karbassi said.

Karbassi noted that last year, 300 voters in the county received the incorrect ballot before the election was certified.

There have also been concerns about election security, Karbassi said, referencing a situation where a key was left in a voting ballot drop box.

Karbassi said the biggest voting issue that people mention to Karbassi are the long lines to vote, which he attributes to mismanagement from the Fresno County Elections department.

He said that Fresno County was almost “dead last” nationally in providing results in the November congressional race for Representative Adam Gray and former Representative John Duarte.

Karbassi is running for Fresno County Elections Clerk against incumbent elections clerk James Kus.

He said that his constituents have reached out to him regarding “zombie ballots” — ballots cast for candidates who have suspended their campaigns, receiving duplicate ballots, and ones for people who have moved or have died.

“All of this is preventable with proper voter role management which is something that hasn’t happened in the last six years. Unfortunately, that’s something that’s failed to been implemented effectively and that is one of the top reasons why the DOJ is coming to Fresno so they can monitor our elections,” Karbassi said.

Any residents with concerns regarding the election are urged by Karbassi to visit MikeforFresno.com

Karbassi said the county needs a clerk that ensures accuracy, transparency, and can restore confidence for voters.

Karbassi still urges everyone to vote despite any election concerns.

Kus said it’s exciting to see a local politician be excited about election issues, but the concerns that Karbassi brought up shows that he doesn’t understand the legal requirement in the election process.

“I think it’s an example of someone who has been at city hall for a while, participated in elections, but like most voters, hasn’t had a chance to come down, ask the questions, learn about the process and actually become educated about elections themselves,” Kus said.

Kus pointed out that about two to eight percent of voters receive a second or third ballot.

In response to the allegations regarding the length of time it took to get the results in the November 2024, Kus said the deadline for the final results was set by the California Legislature, and no other county had provided results by that point.

“our tabulation centers are open and ready for observation for anyone to come down and see the process and ask the questions. That could be you as a citizen in Fresno County, it could be the state, it could be the federal government—we are open to any observer that wants to come in, follow the rights and responsibilities laid out by California law,” Kus said.