California Recall: Registered voters to start receiving ballots in August

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Registered voters can expect to start receiving recall ballots in their mailboxes by mid-August -- ahead of the September 14 election.

The ballot will ask voters if Democrat Gavin Newsom should be removed as governor and if so, who should replace him.

Forty-one candidates have met the qualifications to run in California's gubernatorial recall election

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"On August 16 we'll have early voting at my downtown office, 2221 Kern Street, but then we'll have our vote centers opening up," says Fresno County Clerk James A. Kus. "The first vote centers will open on September 4, and the rest will open on September 11."

The recall will cost taxpayers $276 million.

It is just the second such election in the state's history, but less than 20 years since Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced Gray Davis in 2003.

Kus says despite the recall's hefty price tag, it will not cost the county a dime.

RELATED: California sets date for Gov. Gavin Newsom's recall election for Sept. 14

"In Fresno County, our estimate is about $3 to $4 million," he said. "The California legislature has committed to paying for all of that, so this will be something paid for by the state and it won't be coming out of county dollars."

While the state will cover the cost of the recall, the challenge many counties face is that the election was called just 75 days prior to voting day.

Offiicals say they are treating the recall like a gubernatorial general election despite the short notice to prepare.