Officials in California are accusing Republicans of installing fake ballot drop-off boxes across the state.
The Washington Post reports that California Republicans are pushing for voters to drop off their mail-in ballots in specific boxes – which are actually unofficial drop-off boxes and illegal, according to state officials.
The sign on the fake boxes read “Official ballot drop-off box” and are reportedly placed near gun stores, churches and gyms.
A California Republican regional field director asked people in a now-deleted tweet to DM him for “convenient locations” to drop off their ballots to encourage using the fake boxes.
Alex Padilla, California’s Democratic Secretary of State, said, “Operating unofficial ballot drop boxes — especially those misrepresented as official drop boxes — is not just misleading to voters, it’s a violation of state law.”
“My office is coordinating with local officials to address the multiple reports of unauthorized ballot drop boxes. Californians should only use official ballot drop boxes that have been deployed and secured by their county elections office,’ he added.
Putting up an unofficial ballot box and advertising it is a felony that carries between two to four years in prison.
In a reply on Twitter, the official California Republican Twitter account defended the boxes. “If a congregation/business or other group provides the option to its parishioners/associates/or colleagues to drop off their ballot in a safe location, with people they trust, rather than handing it over to a stranger who knocks on their door – what is wrong with that?” it said.
