Elections office: Kings County had roughly 37% turnout in June 2 primary; drop boxes accounted for 63% of returned ballots

Lupa Via of the Kings County elections office asked the board to set the certified statement of vote for the June 2, 2026 statewide direct primary and presented turnout and registration statistics.

Via reported the county had 59,986 registered voters and about a 37% turnout, with 22,312 ballots processed. She broke down turnout by supervisorial district and political party affiliation, noting Republicans led registration at 24,434, Democrats at 18,469 and no‑party preference at 12,217. Via highlighted that approximately 13,274 ballots—63% of returns—were collected by county drop boxes, a higher share than expected, and staff may consider adding additional drop boxes in Hanford, Lemoore and other areas pending funding.

Via said the county conducted a voter‑roll cleanup about 18 months earlier, reducing registered counts and that numbers are gradually returning toward 60,000. She thanked staff and partner departments for administering the election and asked the board to accept the certified statement of vote.

Why it matters: The high use of drop boxes demonstrates a local preference for that return method and could inform planning for ballot access ahead of the November election. The turnout and district breakdowns are useful for operational planning and voter outreach.

What comes next: The board was asked to accept the certified statement of vote; elections staff will consider additional drop‑box placements if funding is identified.