Shasta County Voters: Key Concerns About Joanna Francescut’s Record as Deputy Registrar of Voters

Joanna Francescut served as Deputy Registrar of Voters during Shasta County’s March 2024 primary and November 2024 general elections (she effectively ran the March primary while the previous ROV was on medical leave). She is now running against Clint Curtis for the full Registrar of Voters position. While her campaign highlights her experience, many election observers say her time as deputy was marked by serious problems: violations of election laws, no proper tracking of ballots (chain of custody), a hidden and insecure system, and almost no real openness to the public.

Observers reported feeling that staff did not want them present. They made it very hard to observe what was happening. Security followed the observers around rather than guarding the ballots — which were described as scattered and chaotic throughout. Staff also publicly called the observers “harassers” to make them look bad.

These issues were detailed in sworn statements (affidavits) filed in 2024 and early 2025, as well as in public comments at Board of Supervisors meetings since 2023.

Broken Laws and No Ballot Tracking

California Election Code §15104 requires observers to have real access to watch ballot copying and counting, with proper notice. Observers said this rule was ignored, and there was no reliable way to track ballots.

A few examples of statements from observers:

• Laura H. (multiple affidavits and BOS comments): Staff claimed “no observable activities” while duplication occurred. Joanna Francescut denied access. Ballots had no clear tracking. “The whiteboard for logging batches was not updated.” In BOS meetings, Laura H. also highlighted 2,783 extra ballots counted than people who voted in November 2024 and called for forensic audits.

• Kari C. (January 2, 2025 declaration): Staff were changing ballot logs. Observers were sent away. Late-night work happened with no one watching.

• Deidre H. (affidavit): Observers were told by Tom Toller that they needed to get on the floor to hear ballot counts through a vent.

• Patricia P. (November 2024 affidavit): Very few screens to watch from, and Joanna Francescut blocked access.

• Sandra K. (affidavit): Noted pencil markings on ballots and questioned the security and integrity of how marked ballots were handled.

• Bev G. (affidavits): Several times, not allowed inside to observe until after ballot processing had already started and was well underway.

• Elisa B. (declaration, signature-verification observer, Oct 31, 2024): “I witnessed some signatures that didn't match in my opinion that were marked as verified."

  
  

Laura H. also formally notified Clerk/ROV Thomas Toller on September 2, 2024, that 2,958 voters marked as undeliverable must be removed immediately under California Elections Code §2226(a)(2). Yet court exhibits show that 2,077 of those previously marked-undeliverable voters still received ballots in the November 2024 election, and 672 of those ballots were returned and counted as “good.”

The Shasta County Elections Ballot Tabulation Room (workers called the "Bat Cave"), where ballots were fed through machines to be counted during the 2023-2024 elections. Observers were only allowed to observe through the windows. Observers were told that if they wanted to hear, they could lie on the floor & listen through the door vent.

Hidden System with Poor Security

The counting room (called the “Bat Cave”) was closed off, and most activity was too far away to meaningfully observe through the windows. Many of the ballot boxes looked as though their seals had been broken and reused.

• Kari C.: Observed a supervisor marking a ballot. She observed the same supervisor as well as others working alone, far from meaningful view, handling ballots. Several observers noted that a storeroom containing many ballot boxes was left unlocked and unattended near the exit.

• Bev G. (affidavit): Restricted questioning in Room 208. Observers could not verify processes or ask basic questions.

  
  

Very Little Transparency – Observers Were Demonized

Staff created rules that blocked observers. When people asked for access, they were labeled troublemakers. Observers said staff clearly “did not want them there.” In meetings and official filings, observers were painted as aggressive to excuse the lack of openness.

• Ronnean L. and other observers (affidavits and BOS comments): Raised concerns about chaotic ballot handling, restricted access, and staff resistance to meaningful observation.

• Nick G. (BOS comments): Called for hand counting at precincts with paper poll books and criticized electronic machines and lack of transparency. “We need to get away from making excuses and make this happen.”

• Lori B. (BOS comments): Highlighted voter rolls, ROV accountability, and the need for hand counting.

  
  

What Board Members and Experts Said

Supervisor Patrick Jones repeatedly pointed out 22 strange clock changes in the voting machines during the March primary, as well as problems with the audit logs. He also stated he was blocked from meaningful observation.

Election experts Dr. Douglas Frank and Steve Umfleet analyzed Cast Vote Records (CVRs) and audit logs, corroborating alleged systemic abnormalities. Dr. Douglas Frank is a physicist and data analyst who has studied election records in many counties and states. He looks for unusual math patterns, timestamp problems, and other signs that electronic systems may not be fully accurate or reproducible.

Big Positive Changes Under Clint Curtis

Since taking office as ROV in April 2025, Clint Curtis has made major improvements that directly address the observer complaints from Francescut’s time.

A detailed comparison report from Shasta Unfiltered shows a clear before-and-after picture:

• Observer Access: Created a comfortable Observer Lounge with live camera feeds on multiple monitors. Observers can now sit, take notes, have snacks, and clearly watch all key processes — a huge change from being treated “like invaders” behind fences and denied meaningful views.

  
  

• Chain of Custody and Security: Every ballot movement is limited to 3 feet or less and is under seal and under camera surveillance. Ballots use high-quality hard seals that are logged on chain-of-custody forms. All activity is now on one floor with full camera coverage in every ballot-handling area.

  
  

• Transparency: Logic & Accuracy testing and 1% manual tallies are fully public and observable. In the November 2025 special election, the audit showed zero errors and a perfect match between hand count and machine count.

  
  

• Error Reporting: Errors are no longer underreported. The prior administration reported only 10 errors, even though over 500 occurred; Curtis’s system ensures full, accurate reporting.

  
  

• Other Fixes: Dropbox operations are now secure and efficient (saving $61,000 per election). Duplication happens under the camera when possible. An independent Board-appointed monitor oversees access, and Curtis has committed to taking a polygraph after each election.

  
  

These changes have restored trust among many observers and are being seen as a model by other counties.

Why This Matters Now

As Francescut runs against Curtis, voters have a clear choice tomorrow. The problems documented during her time as Deputy ROV raise serious doubts about transparency and accountability. Curtis has shown real, practical fixes that directly solve the issues observers raised — turning a hidden, chaotic system into one that is open, secure, and verifiable.

Many are calling for hand counts, full audits, and real changes to bring back trust. Full transparency and legal compliance require independent audits, restored observer rights, and reforms to eliminate hidden processes and ensure ballots — not people — are the focus of security.