Latest news with #SteveOlsen
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erroneous election reminders sent to thousands of California voters
Thousands of California residents received an automated reminder on Tuesday that election day is next week — except for most voters, it isn't. The erroneous messages sent by email to Los Angeles County and Orange County voters arrived with a subject line that read "One Week Left to Return Your Ballot," and told voters that "is the last day for your ballot to be mailed and postmarked," omitting the day. Reminders sent by text message said: "Drop your ballot at a nearby drop box or voting location by 8 pm on." Elections officials said the incomplete messages seem to have originated with BallotTrax, the software that sends automated messages to voters about the status of their mail ballots. The Denver-based company has worked with the California Secretary of State since 2020. Steve Olsen, the president of BallotTrax, said that the automated reminders should have gone out to about 100,000 voters in two legislative districts that include parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Kern and Tulare counties. Special primary elections are being held in those districts next week. "Due to a geo-targeting error, the reminder went out to many other voters," Olsen said in an email. He said the company is still investigating and will send a retraction as soon as they determine which voters received the messages in error. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office said that "nearly all" voters in L.A. County who subscribe to BallotTrax updates received the erroneous messages. A representative for California Secretary of State Shirley Weber did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Voters in the San Gabriel Valley, Santa Monica and San Fernando Valley reported receiving messages intended for voters in state Senate District 36, which spans coastal Orange County, Little Saigon and portions of southern L.A. County. That district has a primary election Feb. 25 to replace former state Sen. Janet Nguyen, who resigned in November after winning a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. In the Central Valley, voters in Tulare and Kern counties will cast ballots next week to fill the state Assembly vacancy left by Bakersfield Republican Vince Fong, who was elected last year to the U.S. House of Representatives. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Erroneous election reminders sent to thousands of California voters
Thousands of California residents received an automated reminder on Tuesday that election day is next week — except for most voters, it isn't. The erroneous messages sent by email to Los Angeles County and Orange County voters arrived with a subject line that read 'One Week Left to Return Your Ballot,' and told voters that 'is the last day for your ballot to be mailed and postmarked,' omitting the day. Reminders sent by text message said: 'Drop your ballot at a nearby drop box or voting location by 8 pm on.' Elections officials said the incomplete messages seem to have originated with BallotTrax, the software that sends automated messages to voters about the status of their mail ballots. The Denver-based company has worked with the California Secretary of State since 2020. Steve Olsen, the president of BallotTrax, said that the automated reminders should have gone out to about 100,000 voters in two legislative districts that include parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Kern and Tulare counties. Special primary elections are being held in those districts next week. 'Due to a geo-targeting error, the reminder went out to many other voters,' Olsen said in an email. He said the company is still investigating and will send a retraction as soon as they determine which voters received the messages in error. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office said that 'nearly all' voters in L.A. County who subscribe to BallotTrax updates received the erroneous messages. A representative for California Secretary of State Shirley Weber did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Voters in the San Gabriel Valley, Santa Monica and San Fernando Valley reported receiving messages intended for voters in state Senate District 36, which spans coastal Orange County, Little Saigon and portions of southern L.A. County. That district has a primary election Feb. 25 to replace former state Sen. Janet Nguyen, who resigned in November after winning a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. In the Central Valley, voters in Tulare and Kern counties will cast ballots next week to fill the state Assembly vacancy left by Bakersfield Republican Vince Fong, who was elected last year to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Elkhart County Commissioners congratulate leaf contest winners
GOSHEN — Winners of the Elkhart County leaf pickup contest for 2024 were announced during the county commissioner's meeting on Monday. With a total prize of $50,000 available among contestants, with each team received a guaranteed $500 if they collected a ton of leaves. The remainder was then divided among the top teams. Jamie Tubicsak, Elkhart County Landfill, said since the inception of the contest in 2018, 1,154 tons of leaves have been brought to the landfill, rather than potentially burned. In 2024, competitive teams brought in 99 tons of leaves. The top three teams in 2024 were Prairie Camp at first place with 31.77 tons winning a prize of $15,198; Yellow Creek Mennonite Church at second place with 30.49 tons winning a prize of $14,606; and Leaves for Light at third place with 20.37 tons winning a prize of $10,090 Elkhart County Landfill's Leaf Program educates residents on disposing leaves without burning. Top three teams recognized for bringing in over 1,153 tons of leaves, reducing air pollution. OTHER BOARD ITEMS Commissioners terminated an agreement with the Elkhart County Regional Sewer District for fiber location services with the Foraker-Southwest-Tecumseh Project. County Attorney Steve Olsen explained that the county established a contract themselves for the services and so the contract was terminated. Commissioners approved a request for Feb. 22 to use the courthouse lawn for a protest on basic human rights for Hispanics and Latinos. Commissioners approved a request from Elkhart County Redevelopment to transfer a property at 25053 California Court to an abutting landowner for $3,000. The property will become part of three smaller parcels that the landowner will combine to be able to build a home on the site. Commissioners received several requests for a master plan for a new county park at C.R. 17 and C.R. 20 currently known as Beachgrove. Abonmarche, American Structure Point Inc., Beacon Street Consulting, Context Design, Danch Harner & Associates Inc., Davey Resource Group, Inc., DLZ, Jones Petrie Rafinski, MKSK, and V3 Companies all submitted RFPs. Commissioners approved an annual grant from the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative for meeting and food for travel, software, cellphones, lunch with a cop, community engagements and incentives, Bashor partnership, another other things. They also approved a bonus grant from the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. The grant will held to fund a new Teen Community Outreach Manager at the Elkhart County Boys & Girls Club and a second trauma service dog to go to court with youth from the Juvenile Detention Center, probation and community meetings. A Juvenile Community Corrections Grant for $151,802, another annual grant, for GPS and home detention staff was also approved.
