Authorities are investigating after over 100 ballots were found discarded in a Kentucky dumpster.
A contractor renovating a home discovered 112 undelivered absentee ballots in Louisville, Kentucky, that had been discarded into a dumpster, according to WDRB Louisville.
“It’s very discouraging,” said Nore Ghibaudy, a member of the Jefferson County Board of Elections. “We don’t need that for the Louisville post office folks, and we don’t need that for the voters, either.”
“The ballots and political flyers have already been returned to the USPS and will be delivered to customers today,” Special Agent Scott Balfour of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General assured voters in a statement. “USPS OIG Special Agents are working to identify who is responsible for discarding the mail. When the investigation is concluded, the case will be presented for federal prosecution to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The incident comes as questions about the security of mail-in voting have intensified over the past few weeks as reports have surfaced about ballots being stolen from mailboxes and discarded, incorrect ballots being mailed, and claims of voter fraud via mail.
Last week, a New Jersey mail carrier was arrested and charged for discarding 99 ballots.
