This public letter was contributed Francisco Diaz, County Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters San Benito County. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. Lea este artículo en españo aqui.

Residents of San Benito County,

As we reflect on the 2025 Special Election held on November 4, I want to take a moment to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who played a role in making this election a success. While elections are always a monumental task, this one was especially complex and fast-moving. Despite the challenges we faced, from supply delays to staffing shortages, we saw a tremendous effort from all those who contributed to ensuring that voters had their voices heard.

This election was a true testament to the resilience and dedication of the people in our
community. I am incredibly grateful for the support of the county staff, law enforcement,
poll workers and countless volunteers who all helped make this election run smoothly,
despite the difficulties we encountered.

As is the case with any election, there is always room for improvement and we faced
several hurdles along the way. There were supply delays, staff shortages, last-minute
cancellations and difficult customer interactions that tested our ability to stay on track.
But these challenges are part of the adventure that is election administration; and
thanks to the hard work and collaboration of everyone involved, we were able to
navigate them effectively.

I would like to personally acknowledge and thank the following individuals and groups for their exceptional support:

  • Board of Supervisors for granting an exemption to the election office, allowing us to recruit and train temporary staff for this special election.
  • Law Enforcement including Carlos Reynoso, Police Chief of Hollister, Eric Taylor, Sheriff-Coroner and Joel Buckingham, District Attorney, for their critical role in ensuring safety and providing security and situational awareness reports during the election.
  • Level 1 Private Security, for volunteering to provide election night security and helping transport ballots safely to and from the vote centers.
  • All County Staff who stepped up on Election Day to cover last-minute staffing shortages, pick up ballots, manage traffic, assist with ballot counting and ensure that drop boxes were closed promptly at 8:00 p.m. Your unwavering dedication made a tremendous difference.
  • Most importantly, the voters of San Benito County – everyone who took the time to exercise their right to vote. Your participation in this election is what makes democracy work and for that, we owe you our deepest gratitude.

Although Election Day has passed, our work is not done. We still must count November
4th postmarked mail ballots and address challenged mail ballots due to signature
issues. We anticipate that the election office will complete certification by early
December, as required by state law. It’s important to remember that state law dictates
the processes, timelines and procedures that our local election office must follow to
ensure accuracy and transparency.

All things considered, this election was a historic success. Voter turnout surpassed
expectations, reaching levels comparable to a general election. Despite the tight
timeline and limited preparation, we conducted the election with great pride. A personal
highlight as Registrar of Voters was welcoming 80 students from R.O. Harding
Elementary School to the IOOF Hall vote center, where they cast their very own “kids’
ballots.” The day was filled with excitement and laughter, a joyful reminder that the
future truly belongs to our children.

Looking ahead, our work continues. Over the next couple of months, we will begin the
meticulous process of post-election audits, equipment repairs and maintenance and
preparations for the new laws taking effect on January 1, 2026.

Once again, thank you to everyone who helped make this a successful election. Your
service, dedication and commitment to ensuring a fair, secure and transparent election
are deeply appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Francisco Diaz
County Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters

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