• Clint Curtis, an election skeptic, has been appointed as Shasta County's clerk and registrar of voters, despite lacking prior experience in election administration.
• The appointment has sparked controversy due to Curtis's history of promoting unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and his association with election conspiracy theorists.
• The decision highlights the deep foothold election denialism has in Shasta County and raises concerns about the future of election integrity in the region.

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors appointed Clint Curtis, an election skeptic from Florida, as the county clerk and registrar of voters. This decision has ignited controversy due to Curtis's past claims of developing vote-flipping software and his ties to prominent figures in the election denial movement. The appointment has raised concerns about election integrity and the influence of conspiracy theories in the county, which has a history of political turmoil and election-related disputes. Curtis's appointment follows the retirement of the previous clerk and the rejection of a more experienced candidate, further fueling the debate.

• What: Clint Curtis, an election skeptic, was appointed as the county clerk and registrar of voters in Shasta County, California.
• Who: Clint Curtis, Shasta County Board of Supervisors, Kevin Crye, Joanna Francescut, Cathy Darling Allen, Patrick Jones, Tom Toller, Rand Paul, Kari Lake.
• When: Appointment occurred in April 2025; Curtis is slated to start soon; Allen retired last year; Toller announced resignation in March.
• Where: Shasta County, California.

The appointment of Clint Curtis as the county clerk and registrar of voters in Shasta County underscores the growing influence of election denialism in local politics. Despite lacking experience in election administration and having a history of promoting unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, Curtis was chosen over more qualified candidates. This decision reflects a desire to transform voting in the region and potentially sets a precedent for other counties across the US. The controversy surrounding Curtis's appointment highlights the challenges in maintaining public trust in elections and the need for transparency and accuracy in the voting process.

I think now is the time to do things differently and lead in a different way.

Elections have been manipulated at the county level for decades.

We can secure our elections without having to have that hand count so everyone can still see everything.

I do not judge people by their political beliefs and feel that we must be willing to treat everyone with respect. Failing to do so just keeps us at each other throats and we accomplish nothing

Clint Curtis's appointment as Shasta County's clerk and registrar of voters intensifies the existing divisions over election integrity, injecting further uncertainty into the county's electoral future. Backed by a segment of the Board of Supervisors eager to overhaul election procedures, Curtis, an attorney with a history of questioning voting machine accuracy and ties to election denialist figures, steps into the role despite lacking direct experience in election management. This decision has sparked considerable controversy, especially given that Joanna Francescut, the Assistant Registrar with extensive experience in Shasta County elections, was also a candidate. Curtis has stated his intentions to implement measures such as video surveillance and reduced ballot drop boxes, which he believes will increase transparency and security. With Francescut planning to challenge Curtis in the 2026 election, and given Shasta County's recent history of election-related turmoil and the strong opinions held by residents, the debate surrounding election administration and integrity is likely to continue with fervor.