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Calaveras County voters headed to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, casting their ballots in an election that included local government positions, school district decisions, statewide offices, and ballot measures. While several races have developed substantial leads, election officials are reminding residents that the results remain unofficial as additional ballots continue to be processed and counted. According to the Calaveras County Elections Department, approximately 4,500 vote-by-mail ballots remained outstanding following Election Day. By Friday, Nov. 6, that number had dropped to approximately 500, reflecting significant progress in the counting process. The county’s next scheduled election results update is Tuesday, Nov. 10, by 5 p.m. Among the local contests drawing attention are the race for the District 5 seat on the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors and Measure A, a school bond measure affecting the Calaveras Unified School District. District 5 supervisor race draws attention One of the county’s most closely watched contests involves the District 5 seat on the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors, where former Supervisor Clyde Clapp faced Bruce Giudici. Giudici died following injuries sustained in a fall while campaigning in late August, but his name remained on the November ballot. Despite his death, Giudici received the majority of votes counted through the county’s Friday update. Unofficial results showed Giudici leading with 1,982 votes, compared with 1,496 for Clapp. That represents approximately 57% of the votes for Giudici and 43% for Clapp. The unusual circumstances surrounding the election raise questions about how the District 5 seat will ultimately be filled. Under California election law, a candidate who dies after a specified deadline may remain on the ballot. If that candidate is elected, the resulting vacancy must be filled according to the applicable appointment process. For the District 5 supervisor position, that would mean an appointment by the governor rather than the deceased candidate taking office. However, the election results must first be finalized and certified before the outcome can be officially established. Measure A receives majority support Another significant decision facing voters involved Measure A, a bond proposal for the Calaveras Unified School District. The measure sought voter approval for funding school facilities and improvements within the district. According to unofficial results following Friday’s count, Measure A received 6,161 yes votes and 5,035 no votes. Those totals represent approximately 55% in favor and 45% opposed. The results indicate majority support among participating voters, although the measure’s final outcome remains subject to the completion of the vote count and official certification. School bond measures generally allow districts to borrow money for qualifying construction, modernization and facility improvements, with repayment typically funded through property taxes. The district’s specific spending plans and financial provisions are outlined in the official ballot materials. Thousands of ballots processed after Election Day Although Election Day has passed, the work of the Calaveras County Elections Department is far from finished. In a statement issued Nov. 3, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Rebecca Turner reported that approximately 4,500 vote-by-mail ballots still needed to be counted. Those ballots included votes collected from official ballot drop boxes, vote centers and mail received on Election Day. By Nov. 6, the department reported that approximately 500 vote-by-mail ballots remained outstanding. The county’s subsequently posted unprocessed ballot report listed 21,310 processed ballots and an estimated 322 unprocessed ballots, along with 340 ballots awaiting signature correction. Election officials continue to process eligible ballots received after Election Day. Under California law, vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10 may still be counted. That means the reported totals can continue to change even after the initial election-night results have been released. What happens if a ballot signature doesn’t match? One issue that can prevent a mail-in ballot from being counted immediately is a missing signature or a signature that does not match the one on file. Election officials are required to review these ballots and provide voters with an opportunity to correct the problem. According to the Elections Department, residents who receive a notice regarding a missing or mismatched signature have until Nov. 25 to submit a Signature Verification Statement. Completing that process allows an otherwise eligible ballot to be included in the final count. Voters who receive such a notice are encouraged to follow the instructions provided by the Elections Department before the deadline. When will the election results become official? Although unofficial results provide an early indication of voter preferences, the election is not complete until all eligible ballots have been counted and the results have been certified. Once ballot processing is finished, the Calaveras County Elections Department will conduct a required post-election manual hand tally. This process is designed to verify the accuracy of the voting system by comparing selected paper ballots with electronically reported results. The county must complete its official canvass and certify the election results no later than Dec. 3. Until then, vote totals and percentages remain subject to change. Where residents can follow the results Residents interested in following the remaining ballot counts can visit the Calaveras County Elections website at elections.calaverasgov.us/ Results. The website provides updated unofficial results, candidate information, ballot measure totals and voter turnout figures. The next scheduled update is Tuesday, Nov. 10, by 5 p.m., with additional updates expected as necessary until all eligible ballots have been counted. For additional information, residents can contact the Calaveras County Elections Department at (209) 754-6376 or by email at electionsweb@calaverascounty.gov. While Election Day may be over, the counting process continues, and the final results will determine the outcome of the races and measures that will help shape Calaveras County in the years ahead. Loading Comments
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