1. The CAGOP has been placing unofficial ballot collection boxes in Southern California, which is manifestly illegal (you can collect ballots on behalf of people in CA, but it requires signatures and prompt delivery to officials).
2. Some of the boxes in question don’t have locks.
3. Despite having been served with a cease-and-desist, they’re planning to continue placing boxes, and have not removed the first 50.
4. This has people anxious–reasonably!–about using ballot drops, which was of course part of the point (you can find real ballot boxes here or can drop your ballot in the mail postage-free or can go to the polls in person).
5. The CA Secretary of State has stated clearly that ballots from these boxes will be counted, even though they don’t have the legally required signatures indicating chain of custody, even though the boxes aren’t physically secure, and even though ballots probably aren’t being collected and returned in the prompt manner required.
6. You absolutely can and should track your ballot here.
7. Are Republicans trying to depress voter returns in California through illegal activity? Yes.
8. Will there be further shenanigans, like vote count challenges from the CAGOP based on their own illegal and negligent actions? Probably yes.
9. Is any response from the CA Secretary of State and the CA AG going to be decried as partisan meddling despite, again, this being unambiguously illegal action on the part of the CAGOP? Almost certainly.
10. Is something like this happening where you live? Well, depending on where you are, it may well be something worse. They’re trying to so chaos, doubt and fear. Vote anyway. If you need help, I’ll help you.
I don’t know if we can stop this machine, but we can at least show that we will not be intimidated. Stand up to this, because we may yet need to stand up to much worse.
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