Avoid unofficial voting boxes in Butte

CHICO » Reports of unofficial ballot drop boxes in California have drawn concern from voting officials handling ballots, including in Butte County.

While there is currently some dispute over the legality of these “do it yourself” drop off locations and how they could affect the integrity of the election, voters are asked to review all official information from their county’s clerk recorder office and to only drop off their completed ballots at official county locations.

Butte County Clerk Recorder Candace J. Grubbs said Monday voters need to use either the local post office, if they do not feel safe mailing their ballot, or drop their ballot in an official Butte County ballot box before Nov. 3.

Using another noncounty drop off box to drop a ballot is illegal, Grubbs said. People should seek official, accurate information about sending in their ballot online on the county’s website, “instead of social media.”

Grubbs said voters can trust in the local collection system and the U. S. Postal Service for security of their ballots. The post office “is bending over backwards”

to help people, she said. However, if they wish they can simply use the official county drop off locations.

The county protects ballots in a variety of ways, with help from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office stationed at the local office.

Any personal conflicts of interest are also being noted, Grubbs said. For example, if a sibling of a candidate works in the clerk recorder’s office (currently

one active staff member), Grubbs said that relative is locked out of the voting and ballot collection process entirely and participates in office management duties only.

The office is fully aware of any employees who may have some relation to a campaign or candidate and has limitations in place to protect the integrity of the process, she said.

And as always, the of

fices are open to the public to come to the Hall of Records at 155 Nelson Ave. in Oroville and observe the process, Grubbs said.

For more information, anyone can visit the County Clerk Recorder’s Office online at https://clerk-recorder.buttecounty.net/elections/electhome.html.

LAURA URSENY — ENTERPRISE-RECORD Stored at the Butte County elections office in Oroville, official drop boxes are being distributed throughout the county.