California GOP Set Up Fake Ballot Drop Boxes

On October 12, LA-ist, along with other media reported that “unofficial” ballot drop boxes set up at churches, political party offices and retail locations in the populous Southern California area. It was later confirmed that these fake ballot drop-off boxes were put there by California Republicans. California’s Republican Party has acknowledged owning unofficial ballot drop boxes that state election officials say are illegal.

As reported by Bethania Palma at Snopes…

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, during an Oct. 12 news conference, said multiple fake drop-boxes had been installed in Fresno, Los Angeles, and Orange counties. Padilla’s office and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued cease-and-desist letters to state and county Republican parties.

Ballot collection, sometimes referred to as “ballot harvesting,” is the practice of a voter designating a third party to deliver a mail-in ballot to election officials. It’s legal in many states, including California.