Ballot Damage Reported Ahead of California Primaries

Fire damage has been reported on some mail-in ballots from a drop box in Los Angeles, as per the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC).

In a press release issued on Sunday, the RR/CC noted, “staff identified a limited number of Vote by Mail ballots that appeared to have sustained fire-related damage inside an Official Ballot Drop Box at the Department of Public Social Services-Civic Center.”

“Preliminary information indicates the incident was isolated and involved a small number of ballots, as it occurred between the most recent scheduled collection and the following morning’s retrieval,” the release stated.

The office also mentioned that a report has been filed with local authorities, and they will cooperate fully as the investigation progresses.

In a separate instance on the same morning, vandalism was reported at the Cesar E. Chavez Park voting center in L.A. County. However, officials stated that voting operations continued without interruption.

“Voting is a fundamental right, and Los Angeles County remains committed to ensuring every eligible voter can cast a ballot safely and confidently,” commented L.A. County Board Chair Hilda L. Solis. “Any attempt to vandalize election facilities, damage voting materials, or interfere with the voting process is unacceptable. We take these incidents seriously and will continue working with election officials and law enforcement partners to protect voters and uphold the integrity of our elections,” she added.

The RR/CC is also making efforts to identify the voters potentially affected by these incidents.

“Voters whose ballots may have been impacted by the Drop Box incident will be contacted directly and provided information about available options, including replacement ballots if necessary,” the office indicated.

This announcement comes right before California’s primary elections on June 2nd, which include a competitive gubernatorial primary.

For those in Los Angeles, Tuesday’s elections will also feature a significant mayoral primary. Incumbent Karen Bass is running for reelection amidst challenges from notable figures like television personality Spencer Pratt and L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman.