Raymond Kalra
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) – With Election Day just hours away, Riverside County election officials are outlining the security measures in place to protect ballots, voting locations and the ballot-counting process.
From the moment a ballot is dropped off to when it is counted, officials say multiple layers of security are designed to ensure votes are handled properly and accurately recorded.
News Channel 3 spoke with Palm Springs City Clerk Brenda Pree and the Riverside County Registrar of Voters on Monday to learn more about the safeguards in place ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Ballot security begins at drop-off locations
At Palm Springs City Hall, election activity has remained steady as voters make their final preparations ahead of Election Day.
Palm Springs City Clerk Brenda Pree estimates more than 5,000 people have visited City Hall to drop off ballots during the election period.
Pree said one of the biggest concerns she’s hearing from residents involves whether their ballots will safely reach the Registrar of Voters, particularly as some voters express concerns about using the U.S. Postal Service.
However, ballots deposited at the city’s designated drop-off location are collected directly by Riverside County personnel rather than being sent through the mail.
“Riverside County physically come in here. They’ve been here this morning already. They’ll be back this evening,” Pree said. “And so up until election night, they will actually pick those ballots up and take them back to Riverside County to be processed.”
Pree also reminded residents that vote centers are available to assist with registration questions, damaged ballots and voting in person.
Security at the Registrar of Voters’ Office
Once ballots arrive at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters’ Office, officials say several security measures are in place to protect the counting process.
Elizabeth Florer, public information officer with the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, told News Channel 3 the facility has around-the-clock security, metal detectors and restricted access to areas where ballots are counted.
“We have 24 hour security here at the Registrar of Voters office,” Florer said. “We also have a metal detector that officers or election observers would have to go through before they could even get to the counting facility.”
Florer said doors inside the facility are also controlled by electronic badges, allowing only authorized personnel to enter certain areas.
The county also uses tracking procedures when transporting ballots from vote centers and secure drop-off locations to help account for their movement.
At voting locations throughout Riverside County, Florer said the Registrar’s Office coordinates with local law enforcement agencies, which conduct patrols around vote centers and ballot drop-off sites.
As of Monday afternoon, Florer said her office had not received reports of credible security threats or incidents ahead of Election Day.
What are election observers allowed to do?
Another part of the election process involves observers who monitor voting and ballot-counting activities.
Florer said members of the public are welcome to observe election operations as part of the county’s efforts to maintain transparency.
However, observers must follow established rules and cannot interfere with election workers or the voting process.
“They’re able to observe but not interrupt the process,” Florer said.
If an observer disrupts election operations, officials will first remind that person of the rules. If the behavior continues, the observer can be asked to leave.
Florer said observers can also notify election officials if they notice something concerning, allowing the Registrar’s Office to investigate potential issues.
Voters who feel uncomfortable or intimidated at a voting location are encouraged to contact the Registrar of Voters so officials can look into their concerns.
Backup plans and accuracy checks
Riverside County officials say preparations also include contingency plans for unexpected disruptions at voting locations.
Florer said the county has backup batteries and generators available for deployment to vote centers if equipment or power-related issues occur.
The Registrar’s Office also conducts logic and accuracy testing of voting equipment before elections.
According to Florer, the testing involves comparing expected results with results produced by the voting systems to verify that equipment is functioning properly.
The safeguards continue after ballots are cast.
Florer said election officials conduct reconciliation checks multiple times a day, reviewing reports to identify potential irregularities.
“There’s reconciliation every single day, usually two or three times a day,” Florer said. “You’ll see the registrar and the assistant registrar running reports, making sure that everything is running accurately and as expected.”
If officials identify an anomaly, Florer said they investigate it immediately.
The county also provides opportunities for residents to observe election operations, including a livestream of ballot processing and counting activities.
What voters should know before Election Day
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with voting locations open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Florer said Riverside County has 152 vote centers and 107 secure ballot drop-off locations available for this election.
Voters can also visit a vote center if they need assistance with registration, have questions about their ballot or need to replace a damaged ballot.
Residents who have concerns about election security or experience problems at a voting location are encouraged to contact the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.
For information about voting locations and election resources, visit the Riverside County Registrar of Voters website.
News Channel 3 will continue following Election Day developments across the Coachella Valley and Riverside County, including security procedures, voter turnout and election results.
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