Election workers in Los Angeles County discovered multiple burned mail-in ballots in a drop box on Sunday, just days before Election Day. A separate incident of vandalism was also reported at a voting center in Long Beach.
The damaged ballots were found during a routine collection from an official ballot drop box located outside the Department of Public Social Services building in the Civic Center area. According to a news release from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office, the ballots appeared to have sustained fire-related damage.
Officials stated that election staff were conducting a routine ballot collection when they discovered the compromised mail-in votes. The precise number of affected ballots and further details regarding the incident were not immediately available. The Registrar-Recorder’s office is reviewing the incident and will contact any voters whose ballots may have been impacted, offering options such as replacement ballots.
In a second, unrelated incident, vandalism was reported at a voting center located at Cesar E. Chavez Park in Long Beach. No additional information on this event has been released.
Dean Logan, the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, emphasized the seriousness of any attempts to interfere with voting operations. "Our responsibility is to protect voters and ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot," Logan stated. "Any attempt to interfere with voting or election operations is taken seriously. We will continue working closely with law enforcement and other partners to safeguard the voting process and ensure voters can participate with confidence."
This incident echoes a similar event in 2020 when a ballot drop box in Baldwin Park caught fire, damaging numerous ballots. The Los Angeles Police Department has been notified and a police report has been filed regarding Sunday's vandalism. Voters can check their ballot status on the county registrar-recorder’s website. Ballot drop boxes will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
