Preparations made for recall election

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

A gathering of concerned citizens, from left. Madera County Counsel Regina Garza, Chief Administrative Officer Jay Varney, Grand Jury Foreman Michael Brune, Elections Division Manager Stephanie Sibley, County Clerk-Recorder Registar of Voters, Rebecca Martinez, Tami Jo Nix of The Madera Tribune, Janice Gomes from the Republican Party and District Attorney Sally Morenomeet at the Madera County Government Center last week. This committee received instruction regarding the three ballot counting machines to be used Election Day.

At the request of the Madera County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Rebecca Martinez a panel of local civic leaders assembled recently to inspect the vote counting procedure to be used on recall election night on Sept. 14.

She and Elections Division Manager Stephanie Sibley demonstrated to the group the purpose and function of the three ballot counting machines to be deployed after the polls close on Election Day.

The panel was comprised of Madera County Chief Administrative Officer Jay Varney, District Attorney Sally Moreno, County Counsel Regina Garza, Grand Jury Foreman Michael Brune, Madera Republican Party Janice Gomes and Tami Jo Nix from The Madera Tribune.

The Recall Election of California Governor Gavin Newson is set for Sept. 14. All registered voters in Madera County should have received, via the United States Postal Service, their vote-by-mail ballot for the special election.

These ballots must be returned by mail or in person to the office of the Madera County Registrar of Voters by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Each ballot included a prepaid postage return envelope for this purpose.

Additionally, Madera County has a drive-up ballot box in the driveway near the parking garage at 200 West 4th Street. Additional Vote Centers and Drop Box Locations will open on Sept 4 and operate 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 13. These vote Centers will be open on Election Day, Sept. 14, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vote Centers offer ballots and language assistance in English, Spanish and Punjabi. The centers can be found at the Madera County Government Lobby, 400 West 4th Street; Oakhurst Community Center, 39800 Road 425B; City of Chowchilla Council Chambers, 130 South 2nd Street; Liberty High School Theater, 12220 Road 36 in the Madera Ranchos; Foothill Church Sanctuary, 45543 Road 415 in Coarsegold; Pan Am Community Center Gymnasium, 703 Sherwood Way in Madera; and the Madera County Superintendent of Schools Conference Room 1, 1105 South Madera Avenue.

Ballot Drop Boxes have been deployed 24-hours-a-day, since Aug. 17 and will remain available until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

These are located at the Madera County Government Center, Satellite Government Center, 40232 Junction Drive in Oakhurst; City of Chowchilla Civic Center; Ranchos Library, 37398 Berkshire Drive in the Madera Ranchos and the North Fork Tribal Office, 33143 Road 222 in North Fork.

The ballot has, at most, two items to be voted on. The first reads: Shall Gavin Newsom be recalled (removed) from the office of Governor? Voters have the opportunity to vote yes or no. If they vote yes, they are then invited to vote for: Candidates to succeed Gavin Newsom as Governor if he is recalled:

The replacement candidates list is on the backside of the ballot card. There are 46 candidates running to replace Newsom.

For any additional information on this election voters may call 559-675-7720 or Toll free 800-435-0509 or visit online at www.votemadera.com.