Updated December 3, 2024 — In comments to the Board of Supervisors, Registrar of Voters Katrina Bartolomie clarified that local turnout has exceeded 71% in several past elections.
Mendocino County achieved a remarkable voter turnout of 71% in the 2024 presidential election, surpassing the highest recorded turnout in U.S. history since 1900, which stood at 66% in 2020. Registrar of Voters Katrina Bartolomie provided the total number of ballots cast in a press release on Friday, November 8.
Bartolomie reported that her office has processed 15,611 ballots and is in the process of counting an additional 21,132 mail-in ballots and 2,204 provisional ballots. With 38,947 ballots cast from a pool of 54,640 registered voters, the county achieved its historic turnout.
"Usually, we see about half the ballots we’ve received this year," Bartolomie told the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors in a report on Election Day. "With around 23,000 ballots in so far and about 15,000 counted, it’s encouraging to see such civic engagement. We’re going full steam ahead."
However, Bartolomie acknowledged the impact of Assembly Bill 3184, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 22. The bill requires California counties to wait 28 days before certifying election results to allow voters time to "cure" signature mismatches or missing signatures on ballot envelopes. "We cannot certify our election until December 3," Bartolome said.
Other counties are also managing extended certification timelines due to AB 3184. Butte County Registrar Keaton Denlay expressed disappointment, stating that while they strive to certify results as swiftly as possible, the new law delays certification timelines that traditionally allowed certification by Thanksgiving or 17 days after the election. "We remain dedicated to providing the best voting experience but understand the frustration this delay may bring to our voters," said Denlay.
President Biden, addressing in wake of Donald Trump's victory, emphasized the importance of respecting the results of the democratic process. "You can’t love your country only when you win," Biden stated. "I hope we can lay to rest questions about our election system’s integrity. It is honest, fair, and transparent."
While official results for Mendocino County and other local races are pending, local officials assure that every ballot is being processed carefully and securely.