Clerk sets postelection manual tally audit

Public invited to observe all aspects of election process

Inyo County ClerkRecorder/Registrar of Voters Danielle Sexton announced this week that Inyo County will conduct a 1% post-election manual tally of the ballots cast in the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election to provide transparency of the election process.

The random selection of 1% of all precincts for the required post-election audit will begin on Tuesday, March 19, at 9 a.m. in the County Elections Office located in the Inyo County Courthouse in Independence.

The audit will take place immediately preceding the random draw and will continue until completed.

The Registrar of Voters will publish the election audit results and materials on its website.

The public is invited to observe all processes.

If you would like to be an Election Observer, contact the Inyo County Elections Office at (760) 878-0224.

early votes

Sexton reported that the Inyo County Elections Office sent out more than 10,840 mail-in ballots to registered voters in Inyo County earlier this month and as of Monday her office had received 1,864 mail-in ballots.

Of these, there are currently 20 that are either not signed or had nonmatching signatures. Sexton stated that letters have been mailed to these voters to resolve this issue. Ballots with signature issues are checked in as “Challenged” and will not be tallied until those voters respond to the Elections Office’s letter. Those voters have until March 25 to respond for their ballots to be tallied.

“If voters would like to vote by mail, I encourage them to have their ballots in as early as possible before Election Day,” Sexton stated. “Mailed ballots that are submitted correctly and early will be included in the first report

on Election Day.”

Sexton related how during the November 2022 election, her office received more than 3,000 mailed ballots before Election Day, and more than 3,000 mailed ballots on Election Day or postmarked by Election Day. These last day submissions cause a delay in election results.

She stated that “either way, we will certify our March 2024 election results on March 27.”

Voters also can drop their ballots in official county ballot drop-off boxes that are located throughout the county.

Ballot drop boxes can be found at:

•Bishop City Hall, outdoor, 377 W. Line St., Bishop

• Big Pine Town Hall, ooutdoor, 150 Dewey St., Big Pine

• Historic Courthouse, indoor, 168 N. Edwards St., Independence

•Statham Hall, outdoor, 138 Jackson St., Lone Pine

Death Valley/Furnace Creek, indoor, Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Multipurpose Room,

Death Valley

• Tecopa Senior

Center, outdoor, Tecopa Hot Springs Road, Tecopa.

For more information regarding voting in Inyo County, visit elections. inyocounty.us or call (760) 878-0224.