Riverside County election audit reveals significant discrepancies in ballot counts and signatures

Riverside County's Board of Supervisors faced significant scrutiny during their regular meeting on December 10, 2024, as concerns over the integrity of the recent election results were raised. A report presented by election auditors highlighted critical issues regarding the accuracy of voter rolls and the counting of ballots, leading to calls for a conditional certification of the election results.

Greg Langworthy, one of the auditors, emphasized that the election could not be deemed legally certifiable due to four main reasons: inaccuracies in voter registration, doubts about the legitimacy of ballots cast, and concerns over the signature verification process. He pointed out that ballots with fraudulent signatures could be counted if not detected, underscoring the need for law enforcement involvement to investigate rejected signatures.

Nancy and Steven Guyer, who assisted in the audit, presented data indicating discrepancies between the number of ballots cast and the number of signatures collected. They reported that in some voting centers, there were more ballots than signatures, raising alarms about potential irregularities. Steven Guyer noted that nearly 50% of the voting days showed errors, with significant mismatches in ballot counts.

Jim Niederwecker further stressed the lack of proper reconciliation of ballots, warning that if the error rate from previous audits held true, thousands of ballots could be unaccounted for. He urged the Board to conditionally accept the election results while committing to improving the reconciliation process and voter roll accuracy.

Veronica Langworthy echoed these concerns, criticizing the delays in obtaining necessary election documents and calling for a revision of the motion to accept the election results. She argued that the Board has a responsibility to ensure the election's integrity and transparency.

The discussions highlighted a pressing need for reforms in the election process, with community members urging the Board to take immediate action to address these issues. As the Board considers the implications of the audit findings, the future of election integrity in Riverside County remains a critical concern for residents.