After an unauthorized ballot drop off box was placed at a Castaic church, Los Angeles County officials are working “aggressively” to ensure no more are put in place.

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office is proactively partnering with California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, and the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to shut down reported unauthorized drop boxes in Los Angeles County.

“Misleading voters is wrong, regardless of who is doing it,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “Political parties and campaigns can engage in getting out the vote efforts, but they cannot violate state law. The unofficial, unauthorized drop boxes in question violate state law and jeopardize the security of voters’ ballots.”

After four days of being shared around on social media, an unofficial ballot drop-off box was removed from the complex at the Sloan Canyon Free Will Baptist Church in Castaic, which is under Freedom’s Way.

On Oct. 6, Pastor Jerry Cook shared an image of a metal box with a paper taped to it reading “Official Ballot Drop Off Box.”

“Our church has a Voting Drop Box in front of our complex,” wrote Cook in the now-removed post. “If you are voting early drop your ballot on by.”

The registrar’s office is working aggressively to protect the integrity of our elections and has employed all options to respond to reports of unauthorized Ballot Drop Boxes and ballot collection and to inform voters of official and legal options for returning their ballots.

See Related: Unofficial Ballot Drop Box Removed From Freedom’s Way Baptist Church In Castaic

“We strongly encourage voters to contact the Registrar’s office for a list of official drop box locations and to report any incidents of disruptive or suspicious activity,” said Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan.

A list of official Los Angeles County drop boxes can be found here.

“State and local elections officials have worked tirelessly to provide voters multiple safe, secure options to return their vote-by-mail ballots. These unauthorized drop boxes are a disservice to elections administrators and a disservice to voters who deserve to cast their ballots with clarity and confidence,” Padilla said.

The Secretary of State’s Office is reminding voters that guidance is available to identify an official ballot drop box. Official Los Angeles County ballot drop boxes are clearly recognizable, designed to meet state standards for security, and, importantly, bear the official Los Angeles County logo.

“Protecting one’s vote is as critical as protecting one’s identity, credit, or bank account,” said Acting Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs Rafael Carbajal. “Just like we have bad actors trying to scam our residents out of their money, we have those trying to rob them of their vote and their voice. DCBA encourages consumers to stay as vigilant with their ballot as they are with their money, check with the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to find official Los Angeles County drop boxes, and report any suspicious drop boxes.”

Los Angeles County is committed to addressing voter concerns and any appearance of violations to the legal standards for Ballot Drop Boxes and ballot collection as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

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