State tells Fresno County not to ‘suppress’ voter turnout

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The state says Fresno County is trying to “suppress participation” in its elections by deliberately placing the voting dates for District Attorney and Fresno County Sheriff in years where there is no presidential election.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber filed a lawsuit Friday against Fresno County challenging its recently passed initiative Measure A. Measure A amended the Fresno County charter to move elections for District Attorney and Fresno County Sheriff away from the presidential cycle to the gubernatorial cycle.

In the lawsuit, Bonta says that this measure is preempted by a state law that explicitly requires counties, including charter counties, to hold elections for district attorney and sheriff during the presidential election cycle, which traditionally has higher voter turnout.

Bonta says the lawsuit comes after the Fresno County Board of Supervisors approved Resolution 23-287 in August 2023, which, among other things, called a Special Election to place Measure A on the ballot for the March 5, 2024, primary election to amend the Fresno County Charter. It was then approved by the voters.

“Our democracy works best when everyone can participate and make their voices heard. Fresno’s Measure A unlawfully conflicts with California law and has the potential to suppress voter turnout,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “State election law already provides election timing requirements crucial for voter turnout across the state. Ensuring that a large and more inclusive pool of voters can vote for candidates who reflect their values is a fundamental step to making democracy work. We’re asking the court to block Measure A. The California Department of Justice stands ready to defend the voting rights that make our democracy strong.”

In a statement in response, Fresno County officials describe the lawsuit as “an invalid attempt to overturn the will of the voters of Fresno County in violation of the California Constitution” and the statute that the state is trying to enforce as “an illegal infringement on the charter powers of Fresno County and its voters.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.