Right now, in California, the state GOP is putting out ballot boxes in various locations. Then, they are putting information out on social media as to where to find these boxes. On the surface, this is not an illegal activity. However, the way the GOP is presenting them is very much illegal.
Again, on the surface, this can be legal. A 2016 law, that the GOP has been fighting for four years, allows a third-party to be designated to deliver their ballots. The key word here is designate.
The voter must be aware that they are not dropping their ballot in an official ballot box and that their ballot will be delivered to the state election commission by a third-party. This is not what is happening in California.
The GOP is not only putting out boxes that say, “Official Ballot Box,” but they are then using social media to direct people to these boxes. This is illegal. The CA Secretary of State has put out guidance stating that this is not only misleading, but it is a violation of election law.
A box placed in front of Freedom’s Way Baptist Church, in Castaic, has been removed since it has been brought to the attention of state election authorities. It was, however, in place for four days. The pastor of the church, Jerry Cook, put out a Facebook post letting people know they could use the box, which was labeled as official. The pastor is refusing to comment to the state election officials and news sources.
There is no answer as to what has happened to any ballots that were placed in the box while it was up. It should be noted that the church has previously held events that can be deemed pro-GOP. We all know the GOP has been looking for ways to cry fraud on mail-in ballots. Is actually committing said fraud their way of proving it? Or, are they making changes to the ballots they are harvesting? Again, showing fraud and criminality in the system.
Let us hope the State of California comes down on the state GOP, and Pastor Jerry Cook, with the full force of the law.