Sutter County in pilot program on new voting procedures

Sutter County residents may be some of the first to try new voting methods approved by the state last year.

The Voter’s Choice Act, signed by the governor in September, enacts numerous changes to how voting is conducted in the state.

Changes include having voting centers open three to 10 days before election day; having no assigned polling location; not having specific ballots available at any voting center; mailing a ballot to every registered voter 29 days before the election; and the addition of multiple ballot drop boxes.

Donna Johnston, registrar of voters for Sutter County, said her office has begun to get public feedback on participating as one of 14 pilot counties in the state.

“The initial feedback has been positive,” Johnston said. “Some of the biggest concerns people expressed were about voter fraud.”

Larry Virga, chapter president for the Sutter-Yuba Constitutional Republicans, said although many people expressed fear of voter fraud, the presentation conducted by Johnston for the group alleviated many of those fears.

“Initially, there didn’t sound like there was going to be safeguards,” Virga said. “With the updated software and online checking of signatures, it seemed like the objections went away. Overall, it looks like it will work as long as we have voter integrity.”

Virga said he still worries illegal aliens or anyone not allowed to vote could take advantage of the new system.

Johnston said security guidelines with a centralized voter list and specifications for ballot drop boxes are still being drafted by the secretary of state’s office.

Johnston spoke with chairs of the Republican and Democratic central committees, the Tea Party, and a representative of the Sutter County Taxpayers Association. Future dates include speaking before the Yuba City and Live Oak City councils in July and August.

Feedback from the public will guide where ballot drop boxes are located, as well as three voting centers.

Johnston said the secretary of state’s office told pilot counties to notify the office by the fall if they wish to participate. If Sutter County decides to do so, the new voting methods would begin here in the June 2018 elections.

If not, Sutter County can participate with all 58 counties beginning in 2020. As it is written currently, counties do not have to adopt the new voting methods even after 2020, Johnston said.

Questions and comments about the Voter’s Choice Act can be sent to my2cents@co.sutter.ca.us.

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