The Independent View: CA GOP Accused of Setting Up Fake Official Ballot Drop-Off Boxes Update

The California Republican Party (GOP) has faced Questions over Unofficial Drop-Off Boxes set up to Collect Mail-in-Ballots across the State. Reports of such Boxes, which Claim to be Official, have been shared with the California Secretary of State, Alex Padilla, who has suggested they could be Illegal. "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," he said.

Following a Drop-Off Box being Flagged with him, Orange County Registrar, Neal Kelley said: "We are looking into this and the CA Secretary of State has also issued guidance confirming unofficial ballot drop boxes are not in compliance with state law. Third party ballot collections are allowed, but a voter must designate someone to return their ballot on their behalf."

The California GOP referred to a Law which it said made such Boxes Legal. "This procedure has been in place since 2016 - not sure why people are all of a sudden surprised," it Wrote on Twitter. This was Shared alongside an Article on Ballot Harvesting.

California Democrats wrote the Law (Assembly Bill 1921). Democrats Voted for the Legislation and Governor, Jerry Brown, Signed it into Law. This Procedure has been in place since 2016.

The Law states: (3) return the ballot to the elections official from whom it came at a vote by mail ballot drop-off location, if provided pursuant to Section 3025. The Elections Official is the Board of Elections who sent the Mail-in-Ballot to the Voter.

The Group further Tweeted: "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?"

As well as the Reports in Orange County, a Drop-Off Box has been Flagged to the Los Angeles County Registrar. The Box, outside a Church, had a Sign on it which said "official ballot drop off box."

Responding to a Tweet about this, the Los Angeles County Registrar wrote: "Thank you for alerting us to this. This is not an 'official vote by mail drop box' and does not comply with CA Elections Regulations for drop boxes. This has been reported and we are following up."

UPDATE - The California Republican Party has Admitted Responsibility for Placing more than 50 Deceptively Labeled “Official” Drop Boxes for Mail-in-Ballots in Los Angeles, Fresno, and Orange Counties, an Action that State Officials said was Illegal and could Lead to Voter Fraud. The Dark Gray Metal Boxes have been Popping Up over the Past Two Weeks near Churches, Gun Shops and Republican Party Offices, mostly in Conservative Areas of a Deep-Blue State, Affixed with a White Paper Label identifying them as either an “Official Ballot Drop Off Box” or a “Ballot Drop Box.” They then Refused to Remove them.