Election Connection - County of Santa Clara

County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters

The County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters' Office is proud to present Election Connection!

  1. Election Connection – Special Ep 5 CACEO 2025 – The Roots of Integrity - Why We Serve Elections

    May 20

    Election Connection – Special Ep 5 CACEO 2025 – The Roots of Integrity - Why We Serve Elections

    Welcome to Election Connection, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the democratic process to meet the people who make elections possible. In this special episode recorded at the CACEO 2025 conference, we sit down with Natalie Adona, the Registrar of Voters for Marin County, to explore her "origin story" in election administration. From her early days as a student poll worker to her influential research in Washington D.C., Natalie discusses the roots of integrity that guide her work and her journey back home to the Bay Area. Timestamp Outline 0:00 – Conference Kickoff: Discussion on CalPEAC courses and learning the history of voting machines 0:42 – The History of the Ballot: Exploring the etymology of the word "ballot" ("little ball") and the ancient practice of negative voting using stones 1:20 – Guest Introduction: Meeting Natalie Adona, Registrar of Voters for Marin County 1:35 – Passion for Elections: Why Natalie chose this career and the experience of being "bitten by the bug" 1:55 – The Origin Story: Natalie’s start as a UC Berkeley poll worker and her early research into poll worker training 2:44 – First Professional Role: Training poll workers in San Francisco during the 2008 election  3:40 – The Research Track: Natalie’s work with organizations like MapLight, Voters’ Edge and Project Vote during the financial crisis 4:25 – Moving to Washington D.C.: Working at the Democracy Fund to implement recommendations from the Presidential Commission on Election Administration 5:38 – Returning to California: How a chance interview at a Rolling Stones concert led to a role in Nevada County 6:20 – Coming Home to the Bay: Natalie’s transition to Marin County and the fulfillment of returning to her roots

    11 min
  2. Election Connection – Special Ep 4 CACEO 2025 – The Roots of Integrity - Why We Serve Elections

    May 14

    Election Connection – Special Ep 4 CACEO 2025 – The Roots of Integrity - Why We Serve Elections

    Guest: Tricia Webber, Santa Cruz County Clerk and Registrar of Voters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Podcast Outline & Key Timestamps I. Introduction & Origin Story (00:00:12 – 00:01:28) 00:00:12 – Welcome: Tricia Webber introduces herself from the CACEO conference in San Ramon 00:00:30 – The Accidental Start: Tricia reveals she followed a boy to Santa Cruz and joined the elections department in 1997 as "extra help" on the advice of her future mother-in-law 00:01:06 – Career Path: A summary of her nearly 30-year journey, moving from poll worker management and Vote by Mail to being appointed County Clerk II. Discovering the Power of a Vote (00:01:28 – 00:03:51) 00:01:45 – Personal Evolution: Tricia admits she was not a "good voter" initially because she didn't understand how she fit into the system 00:02:39 – The Single-Vote Contest: Tricia shares her first election experience in 1998, where a city council member won by just one vote 00:02:48 – Ensuring Accuracy: To confirm the single vote, the department counted the ballots approximately 75 times 00:03:18 – Local Impact: She discusses how people often focus on global or national elections while forgetting the massive impact a single voice has at the local level III. Radical Transparency in Santa Cruz (00:03:51 – 00:05:50) 00:04:12 – Inviting the Public: The department’s philosophy is built on education, often telling the public, "Let's make you part of the process so you can understand it" 00:04:44 – Avoiding Recounts: Tricia explains that Santa Cruz rarely has formal recounts because they perform expanded 1% manual tallies during the canvass, keeping the process open for all candidates and proponents to see IV. The "Election Bug" & The Reality of the Job (00:05:50 – 00:08:15) 00:05:50 – Handling the Intensity: Tricia describes the "wave pattern" of election work, which can go from 0 to 60 in less than a nanosecond 00:06:32 – Not a 9-to-5: She highlights the physical and mental demands of the job, including working 18-hour days for 12 days in a row 00:07:09 – Camaraderie for Democracy: The segment concludes with a discussion on the unique bond formed between election workers who stay up until 3:00 AM to ensure the job is finished for the sake of democracy 🔗 Learn more at sccvote.org 📞 Call us at (408) 299-VOTE (8683) Subscribe for more stories and insights from the front lines of elections.

    9 min
  3. Election Connection – Special Ep 3 CACEO 2025 – The Roots of Integrity - Why We Serve Elections

    Apr 17

    Election Connection – Special Ep 3 CACEO 2025 – The Roots of Integrity - Why We Serve Elections

    Welcome to Election Connection What’s Inside: A glimpse into the passion and purpose that drives election officials to serve. Personal stories of how they got started and what keeps them committed. Reflections on integrity, inclusion, and public trust in the elections process. This is a multi-episode special series recorded at the 2025 CACEO Annual Conference in San Ramon. Each episode features interviews with election officials from across California—highlighting the people behind the process and the collaboration that makes our democracy work. 🔗 Learn more at sccvote.org 📞 Call us at (408) 299-VOTE (8683) Subscribe for more stories and insights from the front lines of elections.

    12 min

  4. 09/04/2025

    Election Connection – Special Ep 2 CACEO 2025 – The Roots of Integrity - Why We Serve Elections

    Welcome to Election Connection What’s Inside: A glimpse into the passion and purpose that drives election officials to serve Personal stories of how they got started and what keeps them committed Reflections on integrity, inclusion, and public trust in the elections process This is the first in a multi-episode special series recorded at the 2025 CACEO Annual Conference in San Ramon. Each episode features interviews with election officials from across California—highlighting the people behind the process and the collaboration that makes our democracy work. 🔗 Learn more at sccvote.org 📞 Call us at (408) 299-VOTE (8683) Subscribe for more stories and insights from the front lines of elections. Explore the podcast

    16 min

  5. 08/12/2025

    Election Connection – Special Ep 1 CACEO 2025 – The Roots of Integrity Why We Serve Elections

    Welcome to Election Connection What’s Inside: A glimpse into the passion and purpose that drives election officials to serve Personal stories of how they got started and what keeps them committed Reflections on integrity, inclusion, and public trust in the elections process This is the first in a multi-episode special series recorded at the 2025 CACEO Annual Conference in San Ramon. Each episode features interviews with election officials from across California—highlighting the people behind the process and the collaboration that makes our democracy work. 🔗 Learn more at sccvote.org 📞 Call us at (408) 299-VOTE (8683) Subscribe for more stories and insights from the front lines of elections.

    10 min

  6. 06/05/2025

    Election Connection: Episode 12 - Language Accessibility

    Did you know that in Santa Clara County, voters can get election materials in multiple languages, not just English? In this episode, we examine how language accessibility enables thousands of voters to fully participate in our democracy. From translated ballots to County Voter Information Guides, we go behind the scenes with the people making it happen. Whether you're an advocate, an election worker, or just curious about how it all works, this episode will leave you inspired and informed. 📲 Visit vote.santaclaracounty.gov for more information or to request election materials in your language. 👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more stories that connect communities through the power of voting.

    14 min
  7. Election Connection: Episode 11 - Secure Your Vote: A Master Class with Matt Moreles

    09/20/2024

    Election Connection: Episode 11 - Secure Your Vote: A Master Class with Matt Moreles

    In this episode, we interview Matt Moreles, the Acting Registrar of Voters for Santa Clara County. Mr. Moreles shares insights on how voters can prepare and create a plan ahead of the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election. We also dive into election security and the processes that ensure a smooth and secure voting experience.

    27 min
  8. Election Connection: Episode 10 - The Future Is Now: Empowering Tomorrow's Voters with Dr. Dewan

    07/30/2024

    Election Connection: Episode 10 - The Future Is Now: Empowering Tomorrow's Voters with Dr. Dewan

    In this episode, we interview Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, the Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Dewan discusses the importance of youth voice and voter education, the efforts to prepare students for civic engagement, and the opportunities to increase voter education ahead of the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election.

    25 min
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The County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters' Office is proud to present Election Connection!

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