Authorities in California are investigating two apparent acts of voting interference after Los Angeles County officials found mail-in ballots burned and a voting center vandalized over the weekend, just days before Election Day.
In a separate incident, election staff found "a limited number" of mail-in ballots that appeared to show signs of fire damage inside an official ballot drop box at the Department of Public Social Services-Civic Center in downtown Los Angeles.
County election officials said preliminary information indicated the incident was isolated and only affected a small number of ballots, occurring between the most recent scheduled pickup and the next day's collection.
Both incidents are being reviewed, and officials are working to determine which voters may have been affected. Those whose ballots may have been impacted will be contacted and offered a replacement ballot if necessary, the registrar-recorder's office said.
The agency noted that a report had been filed with the Los Angeles Police Department and that it will fully cooperate with any investigation that arises from the incident. NTD reached out to local police for an update, but a response was not received by publication time.
Following the incidents, officials issued a warning to the public, saying "any attempt to disrupt voting, damage election infrastructure, interfere with voters, or vandalize election facilities will not be tolerated," and that the county will enforce laws against such conduct.
"Our responsibility is to protect voters and ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot," Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said. "Any attempt to interfere with voting or election operations is taken seriously. We will continue working closely with law enforcement and other partners to safeguard the voting process and ensure voters can participate with confidence."
Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis shared a similar message, noting that voting is "a fundamental right" and that public officials remained committed to ensuring eligible voters are able to cast their ballots "safely and confidently."
Officials have asked voters to report any suspicious activity involving election materials, election facilities, or voting operations directly to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office by calling (800) 815-2666 and selecting option 2.