Fake Ballot Drop Boxes Alarm OC Voters

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - What began with a tweet from a regional field director of the California Republican Party standing in front of a fake ballot collection box has triggered an investigation by the Orange County District Attorney's Office, and Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

In Orange County, there are 116 voter drop boxes and 170 in-person vote centers available to residents for the 2020 election. Over the weekend, reports of "several" non-official ballot collection boxes were called out by the Orange County District Attorney's Office and Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley. The Registrar's office staff learned of the boxes over the weekend through social media posts. There were at least six locations of the unauthorized ballot collection boxes, Kelley's office said.

"In Seal Beach, there was a report of one that was a cardboard box," Kelley said. More have cropped up across southern California, with the majority being metal boxes claiming to be "official" collection sites. One such ballot drop box was advertised over Twitter by Jordan Tygh. Since removed from Tygh's Twitter account, the post referenced by the OC Register shows him giving a thumbs-up while holding his ballot.

Tygh's post said he should be privately messaged for "convenient locations" for other GOP ballot collection boxes. The drop boxes, marked "approved and brought by the GOP," have also been seen at a church in Castaic, the OC Register reports.

The practice of collecting ballots in such a manner "ballot harvesting." However, state officials say a drop-box does not meet a 2016 law requirement that allows votes to be collected by an approved third party.

According to Becerra, the state has issued a cease-and-desist order, demanding the removal of unauthorized ballot collection boxes by Thursday.

Tygh, an employee of the California Republican Party according to his Linkedin Page, is a volunteer for Michelle Steel's race for the 48th District of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to her web page.

Steel said in a statement that she did not condone any unofficial means of collecting ballots. "Every vote counts, and we must ensure ballots are turned in and counted responsibly and legally."

In answer to the ballot harvesting by a worker volunteering for Steel's campaign, U.S. Rep. Harley Rouda issued a statement about his GOP challenger.

"Michelle Steel is proving, yet again, that she is the most corrupt politician in Orange County," Rouda said in a statement released Monday morning. "Orange County deserves a leader who will protect the integrity of our elections, not orchestrate voter fraud. This craven, illegal, and criminal behavior is disqualifying."

.@MichelleSteelCA proving, yet again, that she’s the most corrupt politician in Orange County. Steel’s team is using fake and illegal “official” ballot drop boxes.

OC voters — these are FAKE. Please only drop off your ballot in @OCRegistrar drop boxes. pic.twitter.com/kAoP1DwdKI
— Harley Rouda (@HarleyRouda) October 11, 2020

Kelley said of the ballot drop box, such as the one cited by the Register, that the act of placing them is "like me installing a mailbox on the corner - the post office is the one that installs mailboxes."

Kelley's office has deferred to the OCDA District Attorney Todd Spitzer. in this matter. Spitzer has sent investigators from the Election Team to investigate, his office reports. Now, the Secretary of State and California Attorney General are weighing in, warning that anyone participating in the unofficial process is putting themselves at risk of prosecution.

"Your vote is your voice," said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. "The right to vote is one of our most sacred rights, and I will not tolerate anyone interfering with someone's ability to have their voice heard in our democratic process. The residents of Orange County can rest assured that the District Attorney's Office and the Registrar of Voters have assembled an elite team dedicated to protecting your right to vote.

Anyone who chooses to violate any section of the election code in Orange County and interfere with the sanctity of the election will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The Orange County District Attorney's Office has a dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators trained in election law violations, including election fraud.

That team has conducted training for the Registrar of Voters staff and Orange County law enforcement on how to recognize potential election fraud. OCDA prosecutors are available 24/7 to assist the Registrar of Voters and local law enforcement regarding election law violations.

In Orange County, cities like Lake Forest have posted images of what ballot drop boxes are supposed to look like, as well as where they are located.

"The good news is we got the word out, and there was a rapid response to it all," Kelley said.

The Orange County Registrar of Voters has a list of official ballot drop boxes. If a ballot drop box is not on the list, it is not an official government dropbox.

Residents who suspect election fraud are encouraged to call the Orange County District Attorney Election Fraud Hotline at 714-501-4593. Residents can also report suspected election fraud by emailing 2020.election@da.ocgov.com

The California Republican Party has not responded to Patch's requests for comments on the ballot collection boxes as of this report.

Read also: Illegal Ballot Boxes Crop Up Around Southern California

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