By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (April 19, 2025)
Placerville, Calif. — The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has issued its official response to the 2024–25 Grand Jury Final Report, Case 25-01, titled “Elections: A Deeper Dive Into Voter Rolls and Drop Box Security.” The report scrutinized the county’s election procedures, focusing on voter registration accuracy and the security of ballot drop boxes.
Findings and Board Responses
The Grand Jury presented six findings:
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F1: The Elections Department must accept new voter registrations and updates from the Secretary of State, even if some registrants lack required identification or may not be citizens. The department places such registrations in a pending status until proper identification is provided. The Board agreed with this finding.
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F2: The Elections Department effectively updates voter rolls to remove deceased individuals, utilizing Social Security records and other sources. The Board concurred with this assessment.
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F3: There is inconsistency between federal and state election codes regarding the requirement to state the place of birth on a registration. The Board disagreed, citing California Elections Code §2154(d), which states that failure to provide a place of birth does not invalidate a registration.
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F4: The Elections Department identifies voter registrations that incorrectly list a post office box as a residence. However, the checks are sporadic and had not identified all instances at the time of analysis. The Board partially disagreed, noting that while the department flags known mail drop locations, there is no automatic mechanism to identify new ones.
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F5: The Elections Department cannot update registrations for expatriated voters who have not lived in the U.S. for many years. These voters retain the right to vote using their last U.S. residence. The Board agreed with this finding.
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F6: Outdoor ballot drop boxes are vulnerable to physical attacks, such as arson. While fire retardants, increased patrols, and video surveillance could mitigate risks, they would require additional funding. The Board agreed with this concern.
Recommendations and Implementation
The Grand Jury made five recommendations:
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R1: Implement advanced voter registration database software to identify anomalies. The Board declined, stating that existing systems, guided by state and federal laws, are sufficient.
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R2: Clarify the requirement for the place of birth in voter registrations. The Board declined, referencing Elections Code §2154(d), which does not mandate this information.
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R3: Enhance dropbox security through surveillance and patrols. The Board implemented this recommendation, partnering with the Sheriff’s Office to install video surveillance, including solar-powered cameras in remote areas.
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R4: Address voter registrations with single-character first names and no middle name. The Board declined, citing Elections Code §2154(a), which presumes no middle name if none is provided, and expressed concerns about potential voter harassment.
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R5: Periodically review out-of-state voter registrations. The Board did not implement this as a directive but noted that the Elections Department would conduct a one-time review and consider further action if necessary.
Conclusion
The Board’s responses reflect a commitment to maintaining election integrity while adhering to legal frameworks. The implementation of enhanced drop box security demonstrates proactive measures to safeguard the voting process.
For more detailed information, the full Grand Jury report and the Board’s response are available on the El Dorado County website.
Sources:
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El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Response to the 2024–25 Grand Jury Report, Case 25-01 El Dorado County
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2024–25 El Dorado County Grand Jury Final Report, Case 25-01 El Dorado County
