Skip to content
Advertisement

Beware unofficial ballot drop boxes

Advertisement
 (298336)

Last week, Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Attorney General Xavier Becerra sent out cease-and-desist letters to the state Republican Party, which appears to own at least some of the unauthorized ballot collection boxes which have been reported about throughout the state.

“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,” Padilla said in a statement responding to reports of unauthorized ballot drop boxes in Fresno, Los Angeles, and Orange counties.

On Saturday night, the “Orange County Register noted, reports emerged of “a metal box in front of Freedom’s Way Baptist Church in Castaic that had a sign matching the one on the Orange County box.”

“The church posted on social media that the box was ‘approved and brought by the GOP,’” the paper reported. “The post said church officials don’t have a key to the box and that GOP officials pick up the ballots… On its website, the Fresno County Republican Party also shared a list of ‘secure’ ballot collection locations. None are official county drop box sites, with the local GOP instead listing its own headquarters, multiple gun shops, and other local businesses.”

Under California state law, only county election officials are authorized to set up ballot drop boxes to ensure adequate security. Drop Boxes are bolted securely into cement or chained in place. Ballots are picked up regularly by two Election Workers.

The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is in direct communication with law enforcement agencies, cities, local stakeholders and community-based organizations to monitor and safeguard all boxes

The Vote by Mail Ballot Drop Box program started in 2017 as an initiative to provide voters with a secure alternative option for returning their ballot. Drop Boxes are available to voters through Election Day, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m.

In the 2020 Presidential General Election there will be more than 400 secure Drop Boxes throughout the County giving voters a safe, accessible and contact free method to return their ballot during COVID-19. To find a map showing drop box locations in your zip code area, visit lavote.net.

Before you drop off your Vote by Mail ballot make sure to place your voted card(s) inside the Official Return Envelope; securely seal the Official Return Envelope; sign and date the back of the Official Return Envelope.

After returning your voted ballot via Drop Box or by mail you can check to make sure it was received and tallied through https://www.lavote.net/av_inquiry.

The following are official ballot drop box locations near the Our Weekly offices and available to all registered voters:

Jesse Owens Park Pool • 0.75 miles

9651 S. Western Ave., L.A. CA 90047

Hours: 24 – Hour

Darby Park • 1.22 miles

3400 W. Arbor Vitae St., Inglewood CA 90305

Hours: 24 – Hour

Algin Sutton Recreation Center • 1.25 miles

8800 S. Hoover St., L.A. CA 90044

Hours: Sunrise – Sunset

Hyde Park Miriam Matthews Branch Library •

1.25 miles

2205 W. Florence Ave., L.A. CA 90043

Hours: 24 – Hour

Mark Twain Branch Library • 1.63 miles

9621 S. Figueroa St., L.A. CA 90003

Hours: 24 – Hour

Jackie Tatum/Harvard Rec. Center • 1.75 miles

1535 W. 62nd St., L.A. CA 90047

Hours: Sunrise – Sunset

John Muir Branch Library • 1.87 miles

1005 W. 64th St., L.A. CA 90044

Hours: 24 – Hour

Los Angeles Southwest College • 1.91 miles

1600 West Imperial Highway, L.A. CA 90047

Hours: 24 – Hour

Additional Info: Imperial Hwy. and Denker Ave.

Crenshaw Imperial Branch Library • 1.97 miles

11141 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood CA 90303

Hours: 24 – Hour

Ascot Branch Library • 2.25 miles

120 W. Florence Ave., Los Angeles CA 90003

Hours: 24 – Hour

Advertisement

Latest