Equipment testing kicks off transparency push for June primary
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Ventura County will start testing every piece of election equipment Monday morning, and residents can watch the entire process unfold.
The county's Elections Division begins Pre-Election Logic and Accuracy Testing on April 20 at 8:30 a.m. for the June 2 gubernatorial primary. The testing happens daily at the Elections Division office in the Ventura County Government Center until complete.
Technicians will test ballot scanners, tabulators, vote-counting equipment, accessible ballot marking devices and ballot printers one by one. Each machine must function correctly and produce accurate results before it can be used in the election.
"As the first observable event of the election, anyone is welcome to come to the Government Center and learn for themselves," said Michelle Ascencion, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters.
California law requires every county to complete this testing before any election. Equipment that passes gets sealed immediately, and those seals remain intact through Election Day. Final test results go to the California Secretary of State.
The public testing represents the county's broader effort to make the entire election process visible. Residents can observe nearly every step of how their votes get counted, from the first equipment check to the final tally.
Beyond the initial testing, the public can watch vote-by-mail envelope processing, ballot retrieval from drop boxes and vote center operations during early voting and Election Day. After the election, observers can see provisional ballot processing, ballot duplication, and the One Percent Manual Tally — a hand-count audit required by state law.
The transparency push comes as public confidence in elections faces scrutiny nationwide. By opening its doors, Ventura County aims to show residents exactly how their votes travel from ballot box to final count.
Observers must follow specific guidelines and can only watch from designated areas inside the Elections Division. The county provides maps and detailed observer rights in its Election Observation Packet, available at Vote.VenturaCounty.gov.
The testing takes place at the Hall of Administration Lower Plaza, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. Visitors should park in Lot F or G, enter through the Hall of Administration, and take the elevator down to the Lower Plaza.
Scheduled dates and times can change, so the county recommends calling 805-654-2664 before visiting. The Elections Division also provides accommodations for observers with disabilities through the same phone number.
The June 2 primary will decide which top two candidates advance to the November election for governor as well as other statewide offices, along with local races that affect Ventura County. Registered voters in Ventura County can participate regardless of party affiliation in certain contests.
For local residents curious about election security, the public testing offers a chance to see the process firsthand rather than rely on secondhand reports. The county's full Election Activities Schedule shows when other parts of the election process will be open for observation.
Questions about observing can be directed to elections@venturacounty.gov or 805-654-2664. The complete observation packet includes parking instructions, facility maps, and detailed guidelines for what observers can and cannot do during their visit.