Sacramento mail heist may have swept up election ballots ahead of voting day
A daytime theft from a postal truck in Sacramento's College Glen neighborhood has raised fears that ballots were stolen. Officials say affected voters can request replacement ballots.
Mail theft in Sacramento raises election ballot concerns
A man pulled up in a gray SUV outside a postal truck in Sacramento's College Glen neighborhood around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, popped open the rear compartment and drove off with trays of mail — in full view of a witness at a nearby home, authorities said. NY Post Metro reports that the brazen grab has since triggered concerns that election ballots were caught up in the theft, just as Sacramento County began mailing out ballots ahead of Election Day.
US Postal Inspector Jonathan Lanning confirmed the possibility in a statement to KCRA. "Mail was stolen, and there may have been ballots affected by the theft," Lanning said. Investigators are now working to determine the scope of what was taken.
Local resident Mary Brown told KCRA she never received a USPS delivery that was supposed to include ballots for her great-grandchildren. "I looked at my informed mail, and it was supposed to have my great-grandchildren's ballot," Brown said. "It was mailed. It should've been in my mailbox that day." She learned about the theft through a neighborhood app rather than from authorities, leaving her uncertain whether the ballots had been taken along with the rest of the mail. "I was panicked because they weren't going to be able to vote," she said.
Sacramento County elections office employee Ken Casparis told KCRA that voters who do not receive their ballot have a clear path to still cast their vote. "You can contact our office to request a replacement ballot," Casparis said. "You can do that either by phone or email. And we'll go ahead and reissue your ballot for you." The county will count only the first ballot it receives bearing a voter's valid signature, he added.
Postal investigators are urging residents to track their ballots through the California Secretary of State's website and to report any missing mail as the investigation continues. The US Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information can contact postal inspectors at 1-877-876-2455.
Source: NY Post Metro