Elections Office reports error on Washington Water District ballots

On the morning of May 11, an error affecting 61 voters living in the Washington Water District was discovered by the Nevada County Assistant Clerk-Recorder Gail Smith.

The ballot for those 61 voters lists three candidates with instructions to vote for one.  However, there are two vacant seats on the board of directors.  The instructions should have read “vote for two.”

The ballots were mailed to voters prior to this discovery.  Therefore, 61 replacement ballots have been printed with the proper instructions.  Before those ballots are issued, the ballots that were sent will be invalidated and unable to be processed should they be voted and returned to the Elections Office.

The ballots with the proper instructions will be sent out no later than Friday, May 14.  The mailing will include the ballot, an insert explaining the mailing, and a return envelope that will be distinctly different from the first mailing.

Should the first ballot be returned, it will be easily identified by the difference in the envelope.  Staff will immediately contact the voter identified on the envelope and instruct the voter to complete the ballot they have or will in the near future be receiving.

The Election Office is committed to ensuring that every voter is given the opportunity to exercise their right to participate in the democratic process.