Burned Mail-In Ballots, Vandalized Vote Center Trigger LA County Election Interference Probe

LOS ANGELES, CA — County election officials are investigating two separate incidents of vandalism ahead of Election Day, including the discovery of vote-by-mail ballots that had apparently been burned inside an official ballot drop box, authorities said Sunday.

The damaged ballots were discovered during routine collections at the Department of Public Social Services-Civic Center drop box on 14th Place in the Arts District, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office.

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A "small number" of ballots appeared to sustain fire-related damage sometime between a scheduled collection and the following morning's retrieval. Officials described the incident as isolated.

The registrar's office has filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department and said it will cooperate fully with any investigation into the cause of the damage, officials said.

Election officials are now reviewing the incident and working to identify any voters whose ballots may have been affected. Those voters will be contacted directly and provided information about replacement ballot options if necessary, the county said.

The investigation comes as county officials are reviewing another, separate incident discovered Sunday morning at the Vote Center at Cesar E. Chavez Park in Long Beach. Officials said voting operations were not disrupted.

Officials only said "vandalism was discovered" at the polling place. Election workers responded immediately and voting operations were not disrupted, according to the registrar's office.

"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 in a statement. "Any attempt to interfere with voting or election operations is taken seriously."

The incidents prompted county officials to issue a broader reminder that tampering with ballots, election materials, voting equipment or election facilities can carry criminal penalties under state and federal law.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Hilda Solis said efforts to vandalize election facilities or interfere with voting "are unacceptable" and that officials will continue working with law enforcement to protect election operations.

Voters who witness suspicious activity involving ballots, election facilities or voting operations are encouraged to contact the registrar's office at 800-815-2666, option 2.