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County clerk explains late postmarks and urges earlier mailing after board questions on ballots not counted
Summary
County Clerk‑Recorder Elena Cano told supervisors that thousands of mailed ballots were postmarked late due to USPS handling and urged voters to hand‑stamp at local post offices or use drop boxes; supervisors pressed for outreach to ensure more ballots are counted.
Supervisors questioned County Clerk‑Recorder Elena Cano about ballots that were postmarked but not counted because the postmark was after election day. Cano said changes in USPS hub processing mean ballots placed into mailboxes may be postmarked at a distant hub and therefore appear untimely.
"For us, our hub is in Goleta," Cano said. "When people put their ballots in the mail it is up to the post office to determine when they're going to put that postmark on." She recommended voters mail ballots at least a week before election day or take them to local post offices and request hand‑stamping; she noted the county maintains 18 drop boxes available 29 days before an election and in‑person voting on election day.
Supervisors pressed for outreach and clarity about what happens to ballots postmarked late; several said they will share the clerk's guidance with constituents. The board accepted the clerk's explanation and thanked elections staff for their work.
