Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

KPBS Midday Edition

An August Recall Vote May Give Election Officials Headaches

In this Nov. 21, 2020, file photo, Trump supporters shout slogans while carrying a sign calling for a recall on California Gov. Gavin Newsom during a protest against a stay-at-home order amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
In this Nov. 21, 2020, file photo, Trump supporters shout slogans while carrying a sign calling for a recall on California Gov. Gavin Newsom during a protest against a stay-at-home order amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Legislation proposed by Democrats in Sacramento this month would allow the the recall election of California Gov. Gavin Newsom as early as August 24 of this year.

RELATED: Explainer: Why Is California Gov. Newsom Facing A Recall?

If the legislature adopts the new rules for the recall, election officials in counties large and small will find the cost increased significantly. Large counties will be scrambling to find and staff many more voting centers than for the 2020 election.

Advertisement

And there are potential supply-chain problems.

Registrars are concerned that the vendors who print the ballots that will be mailed to every voter will not be able to find enough paper and get the ballots printed in time.

San Diego County Interim Registrar of Voters Cynthia Paes talked with KPBS Midday Edition about how the county is preparing for an election as early as August.

The interim San Diego County Registrar of Voters acknowledged that scheduling the election to recall Governor Gavin Newsom as early as August of this year may create problems with election personnel, voting places and even paper ballots.

The 2024 primary election is March 5. Find in-depth reporting on each race to help you understand what's on your ballot.