Voter guide 2022: What Siskiyou County voters need to know ahead of Nov. 8 Election Day

Siskiyou County voters choose their candidates in 12 contested local races when they go to the polls on Tuesday Nov. 8 — including city council seat winners in Yreka, Dunsmuir and Weed.

They also cast their ballots with other North State voters for United States Representative, 1st District and State Assembly, 1st District.

Here are answers to common questions about voting in Siskiyou County and a list of candidates running in contested regional races.

What’s the deadline to turn in my ballot?

To be counted, ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Nov. 8, or dropped off no later than 8 p.m. that day, according to the Siskiyou County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Laura Bynum.​

Do I need to sign up to get an absentee ballot?

Every registered California voter should have received a ballot.

If you didn’t receive your ballot, call the elections office at 530-842-8084 or visit the Siskiyou County Elections office at 311 Fourth St., Room 201 in Yreka.. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 

How do I turn in my ballot?

In person on Election Day: You can drop off your ballot at the elections office or any official polling place in California from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 8.

By mail: You can mail in your ballot using the instructions on the envelope. Don’t forget to include your signature and the ballot in the envelope before mailing it.

You can also drop off your ballot at the elections office any time up to Election Day. 

For a list of places to drop off ballots go to co.siskiyou.ca.us/elections/page/accessible-voting.

How do find my polling place on Election Day?

You can look up your official polling place at sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place or call or visit the elections office. You can also check the back of your sample ballot booklet for your polling place.

How do I know my ballot was received/counted?

California voters can find out if their ballot arrived and sign up to receive updates at california.ballottrax.net/voter.

Be sure to enter your information exactly the way the website instructs.

Can I watch ballots be counted?

Yes. Bynum announced in October "the selection of the ballot batches to be hand-counted is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Siskiyou County Clerk’s Office, 311 Fourth St., Room 201 in Yreka. The mandated hand-count of ballots will begin after Nov. 9 — and the process is open to public observation."

or more information call the Siskiyou County Clerk’s Office at 842-8084 or email laura@sisqvotes.org.

What do I do if my signatures don't match?

The elections office will notify you if the signature on your ballot doesn't match the one on your voter registration.

If that happens, you’ll need to fill out a signature verification statement and submit it to the Siskiyou County Elections Office by 4 p.m. at least two days before certification for your ballot to be counted.

You can mail it to the elections office, bring it in, fax it to 530-841-4110 or email it to elections@sisqvotes.org.

How do I know if I'm registered to vote?

Call or visit the elections office to find out if you're registered.

If you're visiting Siskiyou County or you've recently moved from another California county you can check with your county's elections office. See a list of contact numbers by county at bit.ly/3lHuCqr.

I’m visiting Siskiyou County. Can I still vote?

Californians from other counties can drop off their ballot at any official polling place in California from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. 

Visitors who need a replacement ballot may need to contact their county’s elections office. See a list of county elections offices on the California Secretary of State’s website at bit.ly/3t9BL5C.

I lost, damaged or didn’t get my mail-in ballot. What do I do?

You can request a replacement vote-by-mail ballot up to seven days before the election. Call or visit the elections office for instructions.

You'll need to fill out the request for replacement ballot form in your election booklet or get one at the elections office.

I changed my address. What do I do?

Follow the same instructions you would for a lost ballot. You'll also need to call or visit the elections office to change your address.

Who is running in contested races?

Here is a list of candidates and their stated occupations running in contested elections on the Nov. 8 ballot. 

For more information go to the county clerk's list of candidates at bit.ly/3VNLPPQ.

Yreka City Council

Three seats: Six candidates are running for seats on the Yreka City Council.

• Colleen Baker, retired county clerk
• Tryes Cha, eligibility worker
• Drake J. Davis, retired business owner
• Paul Edward McCoy, incumbent
• Robin Richards, retired college administrator
• Jackie Terwilliger, community volunteer

More Yreka City Council news:Yreka voters to decide 3 council seats

Related:Yreka council candidates address housing, a vision for city at forum

Dunsmuir City Council

Three seats: Four candidates are in the race for Dunsmuir City Council.

• Matthew J. Bryan, incumbent
• Michael W. Clarno, human resources manager
• Juliana Lucchesi, incumbent
• Ahmet Tasci, business owner

Weed City Council

Three seats: Four candidates compete in the Weed City Council race.

• Stacey R. Green, incumbent
• Mark P Mazzoni, retired code enforcement worker
• Ken Palfini, incumbent
• Darrell W. Parham, business owner

McCloud Community Services District Directors

Three seats: Four candidates are running in for the McCloud Community Services District.

• Mick Hanson Ballot Designation, incumbent
• LeRoy Scarbrough
• Alexandria Lewis, project manager
• Jim Mullins, ski park manager

School board races

There are eight contested school board races on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Forks of Salmon Elementary School District

Three seats: Candidates compete in two races for three seats on the Forks of Salmon school board.

There are three candidates running for two four-year terms open on the school board.

• Thomas Walker
• Shannon Flarity, teacher
• Margaret (Muggs) Nichols, appointed incumbent

In a separate race, two candidates are running for a two-year term on this school board.

• Lyra Cressey, non-profit director
• Stephen Gunther, appointed incumbent

Grenada Elementary School District

Three seats: Four candidates are running for a two-year term on the Grenada Elementary School District.

• Barry Peters, appointed incumbent
• Ryan Scalera, appointed incumbent
• Rachelle Winter, appointed incumbent
• Susan Crawford, parent and grandparent

Mount Shasta Elementary School District

Three seats: Four candidates are in the race for four-year terms on the Mount Shasta Elementary School District.

• Jessma Evans, parent and bookkeeper
• Nancy T. Swift,  incumbent
• Mona Gutierrez, incumbent
• John Duncan, incumbent

Scott Valley Unified School District

Two seats: There are two races on the ballot — each for one four-year term on the Scott Valley Unified School District board.

Candidates in the race to represent Area 2 are:

• Jen Thackeray, incumbent
• Kip Van de Water

Three candidates are running for an "at large" seat.

• Jenn Rogge, youth educator
• Brandon Fawaz, appointed incumbent
• Maya Courts

Siskiyou Union High School District

Three seats: There are two contested Siskiyou Union High School District races on the ballot. One is for a seat representing Area 1, and the other is for two seats representing Area 2.

Two candidates are running for a two-year term in Area:

• Carrie A. Williams, appointed incumbent
• Kevin Charter, parent and financial advisor

Five candidates are running for two four-year terms in Area 2:

• Kristen DeBortoli-Riccomini, parent and educator
• Scott Anthony Dolf, licensed building contractor
• Paul Chapman, forest manager and parent
• Mindy E Hamann, appointed incumbent
• Matthew Warren Hilliard, mental health care consultant

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and entertainment stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.