Humboldt County Finds 596 Uncounted Ballots From November Election

Thu, 07 May 2026 07:19:00 +0200

Humboldt County election officials discovered 596 uncounted ballots from the November 2025 statewide special election in a locked drop box earlier this week. The ballots were overlooked due to a miscommunication among staff regarding whether the drop box had been emptied. County Clerk-Recorder Juan Pablo Cervantes acknowledged the error, taking full responsibility and emphasizing that the ballots had not been tampered with. While the uncounted ballots would not have affected the outcome of Proposition 50, which involved redistricting congressional districts, election officials are working with the California Secretary of State to ensure all votes are legally counted. The county has updated its procedures to prevent similar mistakes in the future, implementing a “lock out, tag out” protocol to confirm each drop box is emptied and secured before election results are finalized. Humboldt County has largely avoided election controversies in recent years, though it has experienced minor ball