Overview
- The Humboldt County Office of Elections, which disclosed the discovery Monday, said the ballots were sealed in a locked box and then consulted the California Secretary of State on next steps.
- Officials attributed the miss to a staff miscommunication after a worker failed to follow procedures, and the clerk-recorder took responsibility and apologized.
- The office said it has added a new lock out, tag out checklist to verify each drop box is emptied and secured before results are finalized.
- State law required counting before the Dec. 5 certification and sets a six‑month destruction window, so the county says it is exploring every option to lawfully count the ballots even though the outcome would not change.
- The ballots were cast in Proposition 50, a mid‑decade redistricting measure that passed statewide, and coverage has split with right‑leaning outlets stressing partisan stakes as the Los Angeles Times highlights officials’ rejection of fraud claims and recent integrity disputes in nearby counties.