2020 Presidential Election: How Common Are Unofficial Ballot Boxes Throughout The US?

California officials ordered the removal of unauthorized ballot boxes set up by Republicans in three counties, labeling them fradulent and warning those setting them up could be prosecuted.

"These unauthorized drop boxes are a disservice to state and local election administrators who have spent months working on the placement and deployment of official ballot drop boxes," Secretary of State Alex Padilla told a news conference.

Padilla said the fraudulent ballot boxes are labeled “official." His office issued a cease-and-desist order, demanding their removal.

California GOP officials defended the boxes, saying they are a valid form of ballot harvesting, the practice of collecting multiple ballots to submit to election officials, The Associated Press reported. However, Padilla said county election officials are the only authorized personnel allowed to set up drop boxes. The unauthorized ballot boxes may lack required anti-tampering protections.

“We hope that the message goes out loud and clear to anyone who is trying to improperly solicit, obtain, and manage a citizen’s vote that they are subject to prosecution,” State Attorney General Xavier Becerra said. “I’m trying to be careful with how I say this, but the reports we are hearing are disturbing.”

Padilla told CNN on Monday the unauthorized boxes "don't have a chain of custody and we don't have the requirements or regulations for these fake drop boxes as you do for the official drop boxes."

Padilla and his office are coordinating with local officials to investigate ballot boxes in Orange, Fresno and Los Angeles counties.

“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,” he said in a statement.

As election officials expanded mail-in voting for the Nov. 3 election, Democrats across the country promoted and argued that drop boxes are a convenient and reliable option for voters who don’t want to entrust their ballots to the U.S. Postal Service.

President Trump’s reelection campaign sued, however, to exclude extra dropbox ballots in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, alleging the boxes could enable vote fraud. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbot ordered drop boxes to be limited to one per county.

Election fraud is uncommon despite repeated claims by President Donald trump and his campaign. Extensive research reveals fraud is rare, and voter impersonation is virtually nonexistent. The same is true for mailed ballots, which states take pains to secure.