During a recent government meeting, concerns were raised regarding the integrity of the electoral process in Santa Barbara. A speaker, identified as Mary Hudson, emphasized the need for the Board of Supervisors to address these issues more prominently in future agendas.

Hudson highlighted the Santa Barbara Voter Integrity Project's call for a return to traditional voting methods, advocating for in-person voting on election day, the requirement of voter identification, and the use of paper ballots that are hand-counted at precincts on the same night. She argued that these measures would mitigate the risk of large-scale electoral fraud.

The proposed alternative plan includes conducting elections in precincts with a maximum of 1,200 voters, allowing absentee ballots only upon specific request, and ensuring that ballots are tallied at the location where they are cast. Hudson noted that some members of the community have already received training in this hand-counting process, suggesting a readiness to implement these changes.

The discussion reflects ongoing concerns about election security and the desire for more transparent and accountable voting practices in the region.