Feb. 12, 2008 — Lassen County voters chose Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama by just a handful of votes. They also supported John McCain and amendments to state Indian gaming compacts in the Feb. 5 election. Results do not include 118 Lassen County provisional ballots. As of Thursday, Feb. 7, Bustamante and her staff were still checking eligibility on 118 provisional ballots. Provisional voters are not listed on the precinct roster at the polling place.

County voters cast 1,107 votes, or 41.6 percent for Obama. That compares to 1,111, or 41.7 percent for Clinton. Clinton won the state Democratic primary with 52 percent of the vote compared to 42.3 percent for Obama.

John McCain won the Republican primary John McCain in Lassen County and statewide. McCain took 1,327 votes for 35.8 percent in Lassen County. Statewide he garnered 42 percent of the vote.

Mitt Romney received 1,257 votes in Lassen County for 33.9 percent. Romney garnered 34.1 percent of the vote statewide.

Five amendments to state Indian gaming compacts passed with 55 percent or more of the vote in Lassen County and statewide.

The percentage of voters casting votes was 55.24, according to the clerk’s Web site at lassencounty.org/govt/dept/county_clerk/registrar/results-1.htm. That total also did not include the 118 provisional ballots.

Unlike many previous elections, Lassen was not the first California county to submit election results.

“No, we were fourth but we were first to report the final automated results,” said Lassen County Clerk Julie Bustamante. “They said, ‘You’re the first automated county to go final.’ … At least we were up there in the top five.”

County elections staff began the official votes canvass at 9 a.m. on Thursday, verifying all the results and precinct paperwork and hand counting a percentage of ballots to make sure the results matched the electronic tally.

Republican registered voters in Lassen County outnumber Democrats. The voter rolls show 3,926 registered Democrats compared to 6,336 Republicans. Bustamante said 2,433 voters are registered as nonpartisan.

Those totals are almost the direct opposite of those reported in 1980 by then-County Clerk Jacquelyn Fuller, when 5,898 Democrats were registered to vote and 3,231 Republicans registered for the Nov. 4 election.

“In June, all three parties will allow nonpartisans to cross over and vote,” Bustamante said.

The state direct primary ballot on June 3 will include state offices and three seats on the County Board of Supervisors currently occupied by Bob Pyle in District 1, Jim Chapman in District 2 and Brian Dahle in District 4. Superior Court Judge Stephen Bradbury is also up for re-election.

Bustamante said voters are increasingly registering non partisan because nonpartisan voters can vote either the Democratic or American Independent primary ballot.

“The Republicans did not allow nonpartisan people to cross over and vote their ballots, Bustamante said.
California’s absentee-voting program was renamed Vote by Mail, to better reflect voters’ rights by Assembly Bill 1243, which took effect Jan. 1

“Voting by mail is better for us because it reduces costs,” Bustamante said in October, adding about 40 percent of the county’s voters vote by mail.

Lassen County voters who are interested in voting by mail can mail in an application included with sample ballots, can change their status online or sign up at the County Clerk’s office in the Historic Courthouse building located at 220 S. Lassen Street, Suite 5.

Prior to 1978, only people who had certified medical excuses or could demonstrate they would be out of town on Election Day were allowed to vote absentee.