MENDOCINO CO., 11/6/26 — Mendocino County hasn’t counted a ballot since election night. It still has 14,749 to go.
On election night, the county counted 17,607 ballots. The results it posted at 11:34 p.m. on Nov. 3 are still the latest. The county expects to post its next count Friday, Nov. 13, at 5 p.m.
On Thursday, the elections office posted its first report on the ballots it still has to count. Katrina Bartolomie, the county’s registrar of voters, also put out a press release. Of the 14,749 ballots left:
- Mailed-in ballots the county had by Election Day: 12,570.
- Mailed-in ballots that came after Election Day: 965. A mailed ballot counts if it was postmarked by Election Day and reaches the county within seven days.
- Provisional ballots: 1,214. A voter can cast one when his or her name isn’t on the list at the polling place, among other reasons. It counts once officials confirm the voter is registered in the county. This group also holds ballots from people who registered and voted on the same day.
Which races could change
Bartolomie gave the number of ballots left in three races she called highly watched:
- 3rd District supervisor: Eric Hart leads Buffey Wright Bourassa 1,414 to 1,186, a 228-vote lead. About 3,400 ballots are left.
- Ukiah City Council: John Strangio is fourth, 14 votes behind Mari Rodin for the third of three seats. About 1,600 ballots are left.
- Fort Bragg City Council: Mary Rose Kaczorowski is fourth, 61 votes behind Tess Albin-Smith for the third of three seats. About 1,100 ballots are left.
The release didn’t give a number for the Willits Unified School District board. There, Mason Neil Rescina is fourth, 10 votes behind Paula Nunez for the third of three seats.
If your signature didn’t match
Unless the voters who cast them act, 178 ballots won’t count. On some, the signature on the envelope doesn’t match the one on file. Others weren’t signed. Some first-time voters still need to provide ID.
Voters who got a letter from the county about their signature can return the form by mail, in person, by email or by fax. It has to reach the elections office by 5 p.m. Nov. 25. The office’s number is 707-234-6819.
When it’s final
Under state law, the county has until Thursday, Dec. 3, the 30th day after the election, to finish the count and certify the results, which makes them official. Until it does, it will post a new count of ballots left every Thursday afternoon, Bartolomie said.