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Politics Feb 06, 2024
Election workers test voting machines well in advance of the March 5 election. | Photo courtesy of Riverside County
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Riverside County’s voting system passed accuracy testing conducted last week in advance of the upcoming presidential primary, officials said.
“The Logic and Accuracy testing for the upcoming March 5 Presidential Primary Election was successfully conducted … and subsequently certified,” said Elizabeth Florer, spokeswoman for the office of Riverside County Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco. “The comprehensive testing procedure involved the processing of ballots containing selections for every candidate or measure in every contest, followed by the thorough tallying of results.
“To uphold transparency, the votes were tallied and compared against the expected results, which were made available to the public at the commencement of the testing,” Florer said. “These tests were carried out by our Registrar of Voters staff, and the entire process was open and observable to the public, the equipment performed with complete accuracy.”
Election officials did the tests to maintain the “integrity and reliability of the voting process,” according to a county statement. “These tests are designed to evaluate the performance of the voting system, assuring voters that their choices will be accurately recorded.”
The testing took place Friday starting at 11 a.m. at the registrar’s office, 2724 Gateway Drive in Riverside, where all aspects of the voting process were available for public observation, officials said.
For more information on the voting system test, contact the registrar’s office at 951-486-7200.
In addition to the presidential primary, one of California’s two U.S. Senate seats and the usual two-year reelection bids for House members, the March 5 election features quite a few state, county and municipal races.
One notable local race is for the 1st District seat on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Board Chair Kevin Jeffries is not seeking reelection ahead of his planned retirement starting in January 2025.
Four candidates — educator Jose Medina, state Sen. Richard Roth, water district board member Gracie Torres and Debbie Walsh, who election documents describe as a “small business woman” — are vying to represent the 1st District, which includes Good Hope, Highgrove, a section of Jurupa Valley, Riverside, March Air Reserve Base, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook and Perris.
The board’s 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington is seeking reelection versus primary opponents Jack Guerrero, a CPA and economist, and business owner Jonathan Ingram. District 3 includes Aguanga, Anza, De Luz, East Hemet, French Valley, Green Acres, Homeland, La Cresta, Lake Riverside, Menifee, Murrieta, Sage, Temecula, part of Valle Vista, Wildomar and Winchester.
The city of Riverside also has several races on the March 5 ballot.
In her bid for a second four-year term, Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson faces challenger Jessica Qattawi, a small-business owner.
Riverside City Council wards 1, 3, 5 and 7 are also on the ballot. Council terms in office are five years.
Ward 1 Councilwoman Erin Edwards is not seeking reelection for unspecified reasons after winning the seat in 2019. Writer/editor Steven Lawson, former mayoral adviser Philip Falcone, small-business owner Hass Ratnayake and retired David Leon Romo Sr., a retired probation officer.
Ward 3 Councilman Ronaldo Fiero is running for the state Assembly, leaving the council seat open for hopefuls Warren Avery and Steven Robillard, both from the business community.
Councilwoman Gaby Plascencia seeks a second term representing Ward 5. Challenger Sean Mill is a business owner and county flood control commissioner.
Ward 7 Councilman Steve Hemenway is running unopposed, according to election documents.
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