Redding Candidates Report Missing Draft Ballots
Local officials and candidates report they did not receive draft ballots before Shasta County mailed election materials.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Elections
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Redding city officials and candidates report they never received draft ballots for review before Shasta County election materials were distributed to voters. Shasta County Clerk Clint Curtis contends that the draft ballots were sent to all candidates as required.
Why it matters
The dispute centers on administrative oversight in the election process, raising questions regarding the verification and distribution of materials to candidates. Proper review periods are intended to ensure ballot accuracy before they reach the public.
Shasta County policy mandates that draft ballots be sent to candidates once the final candidate list is confirmed. The status of the distribution process remains under investigation following reports that the materials did not reach recipients.
The players
Clint Curtis
He serves as the Shasta County Clerk and is responsible for managing local election materials and processes.
Mike Littau
He is the current Mayor of Redding who reported that the city did not receive a draft ballot for review.
Sharlene Tipton
She is the Redding City Clerk who stated she did not receive a draft ballot from the county.
Paul Saulsbury
He is a candidate who reported the lack of draft ballots and noted that staff cited a distribution error.
The details
Mayor Mike Littau and City Clerk Sharlene Tipton reported that they did not receive the documents, a claim echoed by candidates Paul Saulsbury, Christina Prosperi, Rebecca Miller, Russ Whenham, and Tenessa Audette. After discovering the missing drafts, some candidates visited the elections office in person to manually request or correct their ballots, noting that staff indicated a problem occurred in the mailing of the booklets.
Timeline
October 2026: Candidates reported failing to receive draft ballots prior to the mailing of election materials.
Political Context
The report highlights a potential deviation from the California Elections Code candidate ballot review requirements, which mandate transparency and verification periods for local candidates. This event marks a potential departure from the standard administrative compliance established under these regulations.
Local voters are impacted by the potential for inaccuracies on printed ballots due to the missed review window. This administrative friction may lead to increased scrutiny of election materials and process changes in future cycles.
The takeaway
Candidates and officials are advised to proactively verify their information with the county elections office if materials remain missing. Ensuring the accuracy of candidate data before voting commences is a critical step in maintaining local electoral integrity.
Further reading
For more on local voting procedures, visit the Elections page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KRCR.
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