(VENTURA COUNTY) — Michelle Ascencion, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, announced the schedule for the One Percent Manual Tally audit of the November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election. A mandated process under the California Elections Code (§15360), the One Percent Manual Tally audit is conducted during the 30-day Official Canvass period and involves a meticulous hand count of ballots from randomly selected batches of ballots tabulated through the end of Election Night. The manual tally counts are compared to the electronically tabulated results to confirm the equipment is counting the ballots correctly.
The random selection of ballot batches will take place on November 10 at 10:00 AM. Using a random number generator, as specified in California Code of Regulations, Title 2, §20313(2)(A), Elections staff will select one percent of the batches from in-person votes and vote-by-mail ballots, treating them as separate samples to ensure comprehensive coverage.
The audit process will officially begin on November 13 at 9:00 AM and is expected to conclude on November 14. Members of the public and media are welcome to observe both the random batch selection and the manual tally audit process.
“In a primary or general election, the one-percent tally is quite complicated, with dozens of contests and hundreds of different ballot types,” said Registrar Ascencion. “The tally will be somewhat easier for this election, since the ballot had one contest with only two options. Nevertheless, even this manual tally will take several long hours of repetitive, focused, detail-sensitive work, so it’s still a challenging process.”
Both the One Percent Manual Tally and the Pre-Election Logic and Accuracy Testing conducted for each election are mandated processes that ensure the security, transparency, and efficiency of elections in California, as well as confirming that every piece of equipment is functioning properly with 100% accuracy.
Anyone interested in observing the One Percent Manual Tally audit can visit the Elections Division at the Ventura County Government Center (Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza), 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. For more information please call the Elections Division at 805-654-2664. The official notice for the audit can be found at Vote.VenturaCounty.gov.
The Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters is committed to “Preserving history and protecting democracy for the people of Ventura County, past, present, and future.” More information about the agency’s services is available 24/7 at ClerkRecorder.VenturaCounty.gov