Ballots found with fire damage in DTLA drop box; investigation into possible election interference

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Just two days before Election Day, the L.A. County Registrar and County Clerk reported two cases of possible election interference.

In one incident, ballots were found burned inside a ballot box. In the other, a voting center was vandalized in what may have been a targeted attack.

AIR7 video captured video of the ballot box, which is located near the Civic Center in Downtown L.A. Election officials discovered a small number of vote-by-mail ballots with fire damage in the drop box on Sunday morning and filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department.

In a separate incident on Sunday morning, election officials spotted vandalism at the vote center located at Cesar E. Chavez Park. Officials said voting operations were not disrupted.

Investigators are looking into both cases and working to identify any voters who have been affected. Voters whose ballots may have been impacted by the fire will be contacted directly and provided information about available options, including replacement ballots if necessary.

"Voting is a fundamental right, and Los Angeles County remains committed to ensuring every eligible voter can cast a ballot safely and confidently," said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. "Any attempt to vandalize election facilities, damage voting materials, or interfere with the voting process is unacceptable. We take these incidents seriously and will continue working with election officials and law enforcement partners to protect voters and uphold the integrity of our elections."

it is against the law to tamper with ballots, election materials, voting equipment or election facilities.

Voters are encouraged to report suspicious activity involving election materials, election facilities or voting operations to the RR/CC at (800) 815-2666, option 2.