Registrar hand delivers Rancho Mirage ballots after mailing mistake

Rancho Mirage was the only city voting in the Coachella Valley Tuesday. Some people were scrambling to cast their votes after a mailing vendor for the county, ProVoteSolutions, forgot to send 36 voters their ballots. The residents registered near the deadline and were among the last in the registrar’s mailings for the election.

The Riverside County Registrar of Voters took extraordinary measures to fix the mistake on Election Day.

Teams split up to hand deliver the ballots to ensure everyone would get a chance to vote. Registrar Rebecca Spencer said 21 of the voters had been contacted by 5 p.m.

“We’re trying to do everything we can to accommodate their requests. We went out to someone’s work in Northridge,” said Spencer. “We’re going to have a debriefing with them after this election to make sure this never happens again.”

With two City Council seats and the controversial CV Link on the line this election, incumbents and a candidate weighed in on the issue.

“I hope those individuals will have the opportunity to vote at least some point before the polls close so they will be properly represented,” said Mayor Pro Tem Ted Weill.

“I believe it’s too little, too late,” said city council candidate Michael Harrington. “I think they should’ve done more sooner since they were aware of the problem. Now they’re going to extremes the day of the election.”

“Thirty-nine ballots not showing up on time is certainly not the way you want to run an election, but I’m sure will have little impact on the outcome,” said Councilman Richard Kite.

Provisional ballots were available until 8 p.m. at Rancho Mirage City Hall for residents who never received or lost a vote-by-mail ballot.

“It’s a little bit of frustration for the voters,” said City Clerk Cynthia Scott. “We’re very sorry about that and I’m sure the registrar is as well, but we’re doing the best we can to get everyone out to vote.”