A late-afternoon press conference after a closed-door session with city council members revealed a surprise move by the City of Fresno.<\/p>\n
“The City Council has directed our City Attorney’s Office to establish a program where we will be having our city attorney’s personnel monitoring polling sites,” said Nelson Esparza, District 7 City Council Member.<\/p>\n
The group confirmed the action with a 6-0 vote, with council member Tyler Maxwell absent from the vote.<\/p>\n
The move to place city monitors at more than a dozen polling sites within city limits in Tuesday’s upcoming Special Election.<\/p>\n
“The purpose for sending these election observers is not partisan. It is to ensure there’s no voter intimidation; no voter interference, and to make sure all votes are counted,” said Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz.<\/p>\n
“Observers does not change how we do things at all,” said James Kus, Fresno County Clerk Registrar of Voters.<\/p>\n
Kus learning of the surprise announcement through outreach and was not informed by the City.<\/p>\n
“I’ve not had any contact with the City of Fresno regarding observers. That’s not uncommon but it is something we really appreciate occurring beforehand,” said Kus.<\/p>\n
The City acted in response to an announcement made by the Department of Justice last week stating it would be sending federal election monitors to five counties in the state — including Fresno.<\/p>\n
The Chairwoman of the California Republican Party, Corrin Rankin, sent a letter to the DOJ on October 20 requesting oversight at a handful of countries with discrepancies in the past, including Fresno.<\/p>\n
In that letter, Rankin highlights an instance in 20-22 where the County closed the ballot cure deadline after informing a group of voters it would be open later.<\/p>\n
“It kind of moves the ball, moves the needle and the communication wasn’t very clear. So, this time I just want to make sure that the things we’re being told as a party, for my volunteers and all of our officials are the things that actually happen this time,” said Rankin.<\/p>\n
Action News addressed those exact concerns with Kus.<\/p>\n
“The Republican Party noted that back in 2022, we had some confusion about our cured ballot deadline and I received that feedback back in 2022 from campaigns and we made a change right away,” said Kus.<\/p>\n
City monitors said it will join state and federal election monitors as early as Friday through Tuesday, pending resources from the City Attorney’s Office.<\/p>\n
“If they see anything unusual, they will let us know and, you know, we will take action if necessary,” said Rankin.<\/p>\n
For news and weather updates, follow Christina Lopez on X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n