California primary: Why election workers are returning after COVID, conspiracy theories

BETWEEN COVID-19 AND election fraud conspiracy theories since 2020, it has been a tumultuous time for California’s election workers. 

The state lost 15 percent of its election officials between the November 2020 election and July 2021, according to the California Voter Foundation, which documented incidents of threats, harassment and stress. While not all left due to safety concerns, more than half of California counties have a new registrar of voters since 2020, compared to 17 percent turnover between 2016 and 2020.