A U.S. Postal Service mailbox in Phoenix, Arizona was set on fire, damaging several ballots and other pieces of mail. A 35-year-old man was arrested in connection to the incident, admitting to arson but claiming it was not related to the upcoming election. Approximately 20 ballots were damaged, but many undamaged ballots were recovered, and affected voters will be contacted. The damaged mail was taken by the Postal Inspector for investigation. Voters were advised to check the status of their ballot and request a replacement if necessary. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer encouraged impacted voters to make a request for a replacement ballot if needed. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes commended the local fire and police departments, as well as the USPS for their response to the incident. Counties across the state have implemented security controls on ballot drop boxes to prevent further attacks. Jane C. Timm, a senior reporter for NBC News, covered the story with contributions from Brandy Zadrozny, Alex Tabet, and Andrew Arenge.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
Ballots destroyed in USPS mailbox blaze in Phoenix
