Riverside County officials faced intense scrutiny during the Board of Supervisors meeting on March 19, 2024, as community members raised serious concerns about the integrity and efficiency of the county's election process. With the March election results still pending two weeks post-election, residents expressed frustration over the slow tallying of votes and questioned the reliability of the electronic voting systems in use.

One speaker highlighted the stark contrast between Riverside County's election process and that of Shasta County, which recently terminated its contract with Dominion Voting Systems due to public distrust. The speaker criticized the Board for not taking similar actions to address the numerous issues raised by citizens regarding the election system, including problems with online registration and vote tallying.

Concerns were further amplified by allegations that the Board may be violating federal laws by certifying elections without reconciling the number of votes against the number of registered voters. This claim was underscored by references to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which stipulates that elections with more votes than voters cannot be certified. The speaker called for a special session to allow all Board members to publicly address these election integrity issues, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.

Another resident, Jim Niederecker, brought attention to the designation of election systems as critical infrastructure by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He urged the Board to ensure that voting systems comply with federal security standards, citing concerns over potential vulnerabilities due to connections to the internet and the origins of the equipment used in Riverside County's voting process.

As the meeting progressed, the urgency for reform in the election process became clear, with community members demanding immediate action to restore trust in the electoral system. The Board's response to these pressing concerns will be crucial in shaping the future of elections in Riverside County and ensuring that all citizens feel confident in the integrity of their votes.