{"id":202,"date":"2026-05-07T10:59:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/city-of-avenal-recall-ballots-sequestered-what-does-it-mean-for-voters-2\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:59:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:59:42","slug":"city-of-avenal-recall-ballots-sequestered-what-does-it-mean-for-voters-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/city-of-avenal-recall-ballots-sequestered-what-does-it-mean-for-voters-2\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Avenal recall ballots \u2018sequestered.\u2019 What does it mean for voters"},"content":{"rendered":"
HANFORD<\/span><\/p>\n

While a court order allowed a recall election in the City of Avenal to proceed, the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Fresno ordered the Kings County registrar to \u201csequester the ballots,\u201d putting them under lock until further notice.<\/p>\n

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Voters in the small rural city cast their votes on April 28 to recall four of their five council members following an unsuccessful attempt by the city to halt the special election.<\/p>\n

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The city filed an appeal, the day before the special election, requesting the \u201cimmediate cancellation\u201d of the election after the Kings County Superior Court denied Avenal\u2019s request for a preliminary injunction, allowing the recall election to continue as scheduled.<\/p>\n

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The court of appeal also denied Avenal\u2019s request to stop the election but directed the county to refrain from counting the ballots or certifying the results while it considers the city\u2019s arguments that the election is unlawful.<\/p>\n

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The county submitted a brief to the court of appeals on Monday responding to the issues of the validity of the election and potential remedies.<\/p>\n

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County officials said the county does not take a position on the outcome of the recall election but it wants to ensure the process is conducted lawfully and fairly for Avenal voters.<\/p>\n

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The city filed a lawsuit against Kings County in March challenging the validity of the recall election, including that the county\u2019s registrar of voters did not have the authority to administer the election.<\/p>\n

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The recall ballot included city council members Leticia Gamez, David Reynosa, Pablo Hernandez, and Mayor Alvaro Preciado. Preciado and Hernandez\u2019s terms expire in November. Gamez and Reynosa\u2019s terms expire in 2028.<\/p>\n

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Avenal residents Dalila Barajas and Kelly Guzman initiated the recall last summer, citing perceived disrespect toward constituents, lack of transparency and Brown Act violations. The only council member who is not being recalled is Ricardo Verdugo, after residents failed to gather the required 526 signatures. His term expires in November 2028. City Council are elected at large for a four-year term.<\/p>\n

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According to the registrar of voters, 2,407 ballots were mailed earlier in April to registered voters.<\/p>\n

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Judge Robert Burns said recall elections are rare, and having four out of five city council members recalled is extremely rare.<\/p>\n

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In his April 23 ruling, Burns said granting the preliminary injunction to stop the recall election would undermine the democratic process and harm \u201cthe voting public who would have their votes invalidated.\u201d<\/p>\n

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