COLUSA, CA (MPG) – The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 10 approved a letter requesting state funding to help cover the cost of administering a special election to fill the Congressional District 1 vacancy created by the death of Doug LaMalfa.
The vacancy triggers a Special Vacancy Primary Election and, if no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a Special Vacancy General Election scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026. County officials said the election may be consolidated with the statewide direct primary or conducted as a separate election, each option carrying different legal timelines and administrative demands.
In the letter, county leaders said special elections impose significant and unplanned costs beyond normal election operations. Those expenses may include additional ADA compliant voting equipment, duplicate ballot production and processing, increased staffing, overtime and compressed certification timelines. If a general election is required, counties must repeat much of the process within a short period of time.
Supervisors said existing funding sources do not fully offset those expenses, placing added strain on county budgets.
The letter states that state assistance is necessary to ensure counties can meet all legal, accessibility and security requirements while maintaining consistent election standards and public confidence in the process.
Supervisors urged the state to provide funding to help counties cover reasonable and necessary election costs so voters across Congressional District 1 can participate fully in the election.