Butte County Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters Keaton Denlay says that more than 20,000 ballots have returned to the Butte County Elections Office.
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. – Early voting is underway, with over 20,000 ballots having been returned to the Butte County Elections Office.
Butte County Clerk-Recorder Registrar of Voter Keaton Denlay says mail-in voting varies each election, especially with the 2020 election happening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Shasta County Elections office official told Action News Now they also have fewer ballots returned compared to the 2020 election but more ballots than the 2016 election. Denlay told me why the 2020 election year was so unique.
“Comparing anything to 2020 is a challenge between the pandemic, and different candidates on the ballots it’s hard to compare those things,” Denlay said. “2020 was the highest turnout election of all time so to compare anything to those numbers and expect them to be the same is a bit of a reach. But, we are doing well we’re just encouraging voters to make sure you vote.”
The Butte County Elections Office says the 2020 Presidential Election had more ballots turned in by now.
Denlay says during the 2022 election more people used drop boxes rather than dropping their ballots through the mail. Denlay and his department is still unsure which way people are choosing to vote this year but expect people to use the ballot drop boxes, mail-in, and voter assistance centers.
Denlay expects the number of returned ballots to increase the closer we get to November 5th.
The Shasta County Elections Office has received approximately 18,000 ballots as of today. With it being a Presidential Election, the election office expects a very high turnout.