GUSTINE — A ballot box pickup error and the absence of an in-person voting site left many Gustine residents confused and frustrated during California’s Proposition 50 special election this week, raising concerns about voter access and transparency in small communities.
The ballot drop box at Gustine City Hall was removed roughly 75 minutes before the posted deadline on Nov. 4, according to Merced County Registrar of Voters Melvin E. Levey. Levey acknowledged the mistake and said his team returned to the site shortly after realizing the error.
“Due to a mistake on my part, the ballot retrieval team picked up the drop box from Gustine City Hall approximately 75 minutes earlier than our posted time,” Levey said in a written response. “When we learned that we had picked it up early, we had our team return to City Hall and speak to the folks working there about directing voters to the Post Office next door to deposit their ballot and get it postmarked. My team remained in the area until after 5 p.m. with the box.”
Levey said the incident did not appear to impact a large number of voters and emphasized that no one was prevented from submitting their ballot on time if they were willing to walk next door. However, the error was compounded by the fact that Gustine had no in-person vote center for this election.
Merced County operated only five vote centers for the Proposition 50 special election, down from the usual 14 used during regularly scheduled elections. Levey said he made the decision to reduce the number of centers and accepted full responsibility. Communities including Gustine, Livingston, Hilmar, Dos Palos, Winton, and Planada were left without a local polling site.
“While we placed the remaining five in locations meant to best serve the public, there were communities that did not have a vote center for this election,” Levey said. “I look forward to operating the vote center in Gustine during the June Primary and November General elections next year.”
Levey said voters were notified via mail in September and again in October with details about vote center locations and hours. He also noted that any Merced County voter could cast a ballot at any vote center in the county, a policy in place for the past six years.
Despite those assurances, many Gustine residents said they felt blindsided by the changes and questioned whether enough was done to ensure access.
Angela Ruiz said she left work early to drop off her ballot before 5 p.m., only to find the box gone.
“No sign, no explanation, just gone,” Ruiz said. “Voting is supposed to be simple, and in a town like ours, you shouldn’t have to drive to another city or figure out where to go at the last minute. It made me feel like small-town voters don’t matter as much as the bigger cities.”
Frank Morales echoed that sentiment, saying the early removal of the drop box undermined trust in the system.
“We’re told to trust the system, but how can we when they can’t even leave a box out until closing time?” Morales said. “It’s not about convenience—it’s about principle.”
Teresa Mendoza said she didn’t even know Gustine lacked a polling place until her daughter told her.
“Not everyone reads all those mailers or websites,” Mendoza said. “Some of us still rely on being able to walk in and vote. It felt like they were slowly taking that right away from us.”
Others, however, defended the county’s response and urged residents to focus on early voting options.
“I turned mine in the second week of October,” said Monica Garcia. “You can mail it, drop it off anywhere, or even have someone drop it for you. It’s not like the system failed. Mistakes happen, and at least the county owned up to it.”
Robert Kim said the team’s decision to return to City Hall and remain on site showed accountability.
“People forget that these elections are run by humans, and humans make mistakes,” Kim said.
Curtis Allen said the election was organized quickly and urged residents to channel their frustration into civic engagement.
“If the box got picked up early by accident, that’s not some conspiracy,” Allen said. “I’d rather see that energy used to volunteer at the polls or help improve things next time.”
Levey said final turnout data for Gustine is not yet available, as the canvass is still underway. As of Nov. 6, more than 35,000 ballots had been counted countywide, with over 20,000 still to be processed. Official results are expected to be certified by Dec. 2.
While the Registrar emphasized the error was minor and quickly corrected, the incident has sparked broader conversations about election equity, especially in rural communities.
“I hope that the voters of Gustine will see that Merced County Elections does take this work seriously and we do believe that every voter matters,” Levey said.
For many residents, however, the frustration lingers. As ballots continue to be counted, Gustine voters say they want more than just acknowledgment — they want assurance that their voices will be heard and their access protected in future elections.
