Butte County Clerk-Recorder Keaton Denlay said he received a list of names from the U.S. Department of Justice, alleging that 47 people who are “likely” not eligible to vote in Butte County received ballots.
The letter, addressed to “Mr. Danlay” (sic), was a two-page list formatted like an Excel sheet that contained 46 names — not 47. Denlay said that 32 of the names were not registered to vote in the county, and there was not enough information to match seven names with the county’s voter database.
Denlay said the poor formatting, insufficient information and jumbled data meant the DOJ had not met California’s burden of proof to challenge voter registration. This is the first time he has interacted with the DOJ in his capacity as clerk-recorder.
Denlay said that if the DOJ “does have the evidence they say they have,” he would like to know. He spent the weekend after receiving the letter verifying the names. Denlay is not aware of any arrests the DOJ has made in Butte County for voter fraud thus far.
“Butte County is capable of holding secure elections, just as it has in the past,” he said.