California Republicans are allegedly setting up fake 'official' drop-off boxes to harvest ballots

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California Secretary of State Alex Padilla's office has received complains about what appear to be unauthorized ballot drop boxes in Los Angels, Orange, and Fresno counties, and it appears from social media posts that California Republicans have set them up to collect ballots, The Orange County Register reported Sunday night. The metal boxes, which purport to be "official," have been reported at local political party offices, churches, and headquarters for GOP candidates.

"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, and a felony conviction would land perpetrators in prison for two to four years. County elections officials and registrars are solely empowered to set up and maintain drop boxes in accordance with strict state security rules.

The California Republican Party did not respond to the Register's requests for comments, nor did individual GOP operatives who have implicated themselves on social media. But the state GOP has "been defending the practice in replies on Twitter, alleging the process was made legal under a 2016 law that allows California voters to designate a person to return their ballot for them," the Register reports. "The GOP calls the practice 'ballot harvesting' and blames it for losses to the Democrats in OC and other places in 2018." State officials say unauthorized drop boxes would violate that law since there's no designated person to sign for the ballot, as required.

Slate judiciary staff writer Joseph Stern sees something a little more nefarious than just trying to make it more convenient for Republicans to vote. "California Republicans are allegedly creating fake drop boxes and tricking voters into depositing their ballots in them," he tweeted. "Apparently they're trying to prove voter fraud is real by committing actual election fraud."

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https://theweek.com/speedreads/943130/california-republicans-are-allegedly-setting-fake-official-dropoff-boxes-harvest-ballots

https://www.ocregister.com/2020/10/11/unofficial-ballot-drop-boxes-popping-up-throughout-the-state-worry-elections-officials/

[magicarpet]

1. Detain, convict, incarcerate.

[benfranklin1776]

10. Immediately. There needs to be swift and severe prosecution and punishment.

The only sure thing that will stop these gutter felons intentionally perpetuating this crime against the American people and the United States. And search warrants need executed to find out where they were placed and which voters were likely affected so those whose ballots were stolen through this scum ball trickery can be identified abd given the opportunity to revote.

[Iliyah]

2. That is against the law . . .

where the eff is treason barr?

[beachbumbob]

3. seems like offenders need to be arrested and prosecuted

[heckles65]

4. Doesn't anyone have a picture?

[SWBTATTReg]

5. A clear example of ballot harvesting, which they have accused the Democratic Party of doing...

what hypocrites.

[Boogiemack]

6. Please show them on national TV and then lock them up! nt

[crickets]

7. What the actual hell? GOP criminal antics are so tiresome. 🤦‍♀️

[bucolic_frolic]

8. GOP here are creating tainted election narrative

Glen Kirschner posted videos where he says they can't create a problem and then go to court and sue based on the problem they created. Called this the "clean hands doctrine". Dunno. I'm no lawyer.

[RicROC]

9. Lock them up!