Shasta County officials call for investigation into election registrar

Shasta County, California, is facing significant election-related controversy involving its registrar of voters, Clint Curtis. County leadership has issued an extraordinary plea to state and federal authorities, including the FBI and the California Attorney General, to investigate Curtis’s official actions and practices.

Deputy CEO Stewart Buettell stated that Curtis has made “frivolous” and “unproven” claims regarding the June primary election. In response to Curtis's allegations, the county has condemned his conduct. Curtis has reportedly sequestered primary ballots in a locked room, using duct tape and signs to prevent access, claiming the ballots “did not look, feel or smell right.”

Simultaneously, Curtis has proposed hiring Tina Peters, a former Colorado election official convicted of tampering with voting machines, as a consultant for the 2026 elections. Curtis clarified that if Peters is hired as a consultant rather than a full-time employee, she would not have access to county email or election systems. Peters, whose prison sentence was commuted in June, is currently reviewing the potential role with her legal team. Her parole conditions require her to live and work in Colorado, though she may request a transfer through a formal review process.