Local Ballot Box Set on Fire

Baldwin Park residents who used the ballot box asked to contact the county

Jesse Espitia, Sports Editor|October 21, 2020

Abraham Navarro

A Baldwin Park ballot box was set on fire on Oct. 18. Photo by Abraham Navarro/SAC.Media.

A ballot drop off box was set on fire in Baldwin Park on Sunday, Oct. 18, which destroyed a number of voting ballots that were placed inside.
Authorities believe the fire to be an act of arson. The Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office has requested that the arson be investigated by the FBI and the Attorney General’s office.
The box was said to have been filled with at least 100 ballots at the time the fire occurred. The ballot drop off box was located in front of the Baldwin Park County Library on Baldwin Park Boulevard.
In an attempt to recover voter information, the Los Angeles County Registrar’s office is now sorting through the ballots that were not completely destroyed in the fire in hopes that they will be able to track down voters who used the drop box.
Hilda Solis, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors who represents the first District, which includes Baldwin Park, issued a statement via Twitter which included an official news release from the County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
“Tampering, or attempts to tamper, with our democracy will not be tolerated. Rest assured, LA County resident’s voices will be heard when they vote, including this election,” Solis said.

The release also indicated that ballot pickups will now be occurring more frequently across the county. According to the Registrar’s Office the County last picked up ballots from the drop box location on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10:10 a.m.
With election day less than two weeks away individuals who used the Baldwin Park drop box location are advised to contact the county to verify that their ballot was received. To make sure their vote is counted California voters can also track their ballot at lavote.net.