What's at stake?
At a news conference, Fresno County officials reminded voters about laws regarding electioneering and urged the public to notify the county of any concerns over voter intimidation. At the same time, voters in Fresno have received threatening letters for displaying Harris-Walz signage in their yards.
This is not a normal election.
Nationally, voters have alleged increased harassment, intimidation and fear often fueled by conspiracy theories, racist rhetoric and ever-increasing voter anxiety.
And while Fresno County hasn’t seen that level of animosity, tensions are rising locally as well and county leaders are hoping to avoid any major incidents.
In a telephone interview Thursday with Fresnoland, Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus said his office hasn’t received any formal complaints of voter intimidation or harassment at county drop boxes or vote centers, but there have been some “uncomfortable moments” since in-person voting began in early October.
“We have had some issues with electioneering at voting locations,” Kus said.
California law prohibits any electioneering or campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place or drop-box, that includes wearing clothing or anything else that depicts a candidate, their name, their likeness or logo.
Kus described Fresno County voter enthusiasm for this cycle as the highest since the fall of 2020 and acknowledged “there’s always some tug and pull” when poll workers need to ask voters to remove campaign materials.
“But people are more excited this year, very tied to their candidates this year,” Kus told Fresnoland, “we’re seeing it a little more often.”
In an effort to avoid more confrontations, Kus joined Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and Sheriff John Zanoni at a news conference Thursday, reminding voters about electioneering laws that prohibit you from advocating for your favorite candidates or top issues near voting places and drop boxes.
“It’s very important that voters not bring election material into a voting location,” Kus said. “We won’t let you vote, if you’re breaking the law.”
California voters can wear MAGA hats or “Vote Her” t-shirts as long as the clothing doesn’t display a candidate’s name, image, likeness or logo.
“MAGA is a slogan used by multiple candidates, especially in the Valley,” Kus explained. “It just can’t have a candidate’s name, likeness or logo or you’ll be asked to remove it or cover it.”
But, Kus said, Fresno voters have followed the law when reminded, at least so far.
“Some have complained but cooperated as they were complaining,” Kus said. “But they cooperated and they understood the process even if they didn’t like it.”
Kus told reporters on Thursday that he was aware of just one recent case where a voter was turned away for refusing to remove electioneering material.
Smittcamp stated that the county will not tolerate any threats made against election workers or voters and reminded the public that voter intimidation and interference is a crime.
“I want to make this very clear, it is not your First Amendment right to threaten people,” Smittcamp said.
According to Smittcamp, only one case of potential electioneering has been referred to her office so far, but noted that her office would not prosecute because the facts of the case don’t “necessarily rise to the level of a crime.”
‘Voter intimidation?’
Thursday’s news conference comes on the heels of reports from Fresno County Democratic Party officials of more than a dozen racist threatening messages sent to homes displaying support for Kamala Harris.
Marsha Conant, first vice chair for the Fresno County Democratic Party, told Fresnoland the unsigned letters were sent to around 16 homes with Harris-Walz yard signs, and threatened to publish the addresses as migrant sanctuaries to the undocumented migrant community in the Fresno/Clovis area unless the signs were taken down.
“I believe that that is voter intimidation,” Conant said in an interview.
Kus said his office had not been made aware of the letters on Thursday and urged the public to reach out to his office as soon as possible with any questions or concerns.
“If we don’t know about an issue, we can’t address it,” Kus told Fresnoland. “And that’s a little frustrating because we’re here to help voters and we need them to reach out to us.”
Information on how to contact the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters can be found here.
“The fact that somebody would resort to this kind of bullying and these intimidation tactics is appalling; we should be able to put up whatever damn sign we want to,” Conant added.
Conant urges voters of both sides of the political spectrum who may be unsure on how to navigate the election process to contact the Fresno County Democratic Party in-person, online or through the phone.
Conant also said that if you’ve lost your yard sign or haven’t gotten one, free signs are available at the Fresno County Democratic Party office.
The Fresno County Republican Party did not respond to a request for comment.
Fresno resident James Mendez said his adult daughter witnessed an ugly scene at the elections office this week when two angry voters made remarks about “checking voter IDs” to confirm citizenship.
“I’m Mexican, my wife is African American, so our daughter is darker-skinned, and it was very upsetting,” Mendez said. “I think that’s voter intimidation and it’s not right.”
Kus confirmed the incident late Thursday, saying the remarks were directed at elections staff.
“This is not an uncommon sentiment to be expressed by in-person voters and is generally (and specifically in this case to the best of our knowledge) directed at elections staff – with the implication that we have the power or responsibility to overwrite state law,” Kus said in an email to Fresnoland. “We educated the voter regarding whom to contact about changing those laws and they left.
“We must emphasize a need for civility and respect for election workers and other voters during the voting process.”
‘Heavy turnout’
Kus also urged voters to turnout earlier if possible.
“Those lines are only going to get longer, the closer we get,” he noted. Kus described early voting turnout as “heavy.”
“We’ve been getting about 700 people a day since Saturday,” Kus said. “That’s pretty good; well above the last two years.”
He said it remains too early to know whether turnout will surpass 2020’s record-breaking voter participation.
“We’re expecting very good turnout — we’re ready for 100% turnout,” Kus said, “though we know that’s not going to happen.”
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