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State Dems and GOP Still Dancing Around Unofficial Ballot Boxes, But Who's Dancing Lead?
Twitter user Rebecca Albarran posted this photo on Monday of an unofficial ballot drop box outside St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Simi Valley. (Screengrab from Twitter)
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California Republicans and Democrats have been performing an awkward tango all week over the GOP’s use of unofficial ballot boxes. The dancing continued today with more mixed messages coming from Democratic elected officials and state GOP leaders.
In a press conference Friday, Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Attorney General Xavier Becerra first said they have no plans for legal action against the California GOP because, they said, the party had removed the offending ballot boxes.
“Despite the rhetoric in the press,” said Padilla, “the Republican Party has agreed to no longer deploy unstaffed and unsecured ballot drop boxes."
But Padilla later said in a press release that the Attorney General would be issuing subpoenas for more information from the party about the boxes.
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“There are still outstanding questions about the scope and practices of the Republican Party’s misleading ballot collection operation,” Padilla said in the emailed statement," later adding, “this investigation will remain on-going, and we will take further legal action as necessary.”
On Friday, during the press conference where state officials declared the ballot boxes had been removed, Republicans such as State Senator Melissa Melendez were touting the program and promising the boxes were “secure.”
We’re still deploying the boxes.
— Senator Melissa Melendez (@senatormelendez) October 16, 2020
They will of course be secure. https://t.co/uV5s5qu2gp
California GOP spokesman Hector Barajas said:
“The Secretary of State and Attorney General didn't know the facts and didn't bother to learn them before accusing us [of breaking the law] on Monday. We can't agree to not do something we weren't doing to begin with. They could have shortened this press conference by simply saying ‘Sorry.'”
READ MORE:
- Fake Ballot Drop Boxes Have Popped Up In Southern California. They're Not Legal.
- California Republicans Say Unauthorized Ballot Drop Boxes Are Legal And Vow To Continue Operating Them
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- Key races we're following in Orange and L.A. counties.
- A guide to ballot propositions and special measures.
- FAQs about the election and voting-by-mail.
- News stories about the election.
- Your customized ballot.
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