The California Republican Party has been vocally critical of so-called ballot harvesting. But with less than three weeks before the November election, it’s trying its hand at the practice in what election officials say is an unlawful way.
California GOP officials have been encouraging people to drop off mail-in ballots at a series of unofficial repositories. That has prompted an investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and a strong warning from state officials.
The California Republican Party, Fresno County Republican Party, Los Angeles County Republican Party, and Republican Party of Orange County must cease and desist the coordination, use, or false or misleading promotion of unauthorized and non-official vote by mail drop boxes.
— Xavier Becerra (@AGBecerra) October 12, 2020
GOP officials point to a 2016 state law that allows designated persons to deliver a voter’s mail-in ballot to county elections offices. The state says the rogue drop boxes erected by the GOP don’t count.
“County elections officials alone have the authority to designate the location, hours of operation, and number of drop boxes in the county, and have the responsibility for ensuring compliance with all applicable statutes and regulations that guarantee the security and chain of custody of vote-by-mail ballots deposited,” Jana Lean, chief of the secretary of state’s enforcement division, said.
To ensure their votes are counted, individuals should only deposit ballots at an official site. Find your nearest official drop-off location here.