During a recent government meeting, citizens raised significant concerns regarding the integrity of Sonoma County's election system, particularly in light of California's transition to mandatory universal vote-by-mail elections. Rhonda Provost, a representative of the concerned citizens, highlighted findings from a multi-county canvas that revealed alarming statistics about unaccounted ballots. She noted that over 59 million mailed ballots, representing 54% of the total, remain unaccounted for, raising questions about the security and reliability of the election process.

Provost attributed these issues to Governor Gavin Newsom's executive order that established universal mail-in voting, which was enacted following a 2021 recall attempt against him. She emphasized the need for voter identification and stricter controls on mail-in ballots to restore confidence in the electoral system. Orlean Kurla echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the lack of accountability for unreturned ballots could undermine voter confidence and participation.

The discussion also touched on the challenges of maintaining accurate voter rolls, particularly as many Californians relocate. Raeleen Steinhousen presented data indicating that thousands of voters still registered in California had moved to other states, raising concerns about dual registrations and the potential for voting irregularities. Steve Collette added that inaccuracies in voter rolls could lead to disenfranchisement and increased distrust in the electoral process.

Linda Cade concluded the meeting by urging the board of supervisors to take immediate action to address these issues, emphasizing that the integrity of California's elections is at stake. The citizens' collective call for transparency and reform reflects a growing unease about the state's voting practices as the next election approaches.