3.
Drop boxes have become key to election conspiracy theories. Two Democrats just fueled those claims
A ballot drop box sits outside the city government center, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Bridgeport, Conn. Ballot drop boxes have been a prime target for those pushing conspiracy theories that the 2020 presidential race was rigged and election results can't be trusted. While the narrative is false, Democrats in Connecticut's largest city are unwittingly fueling the claims as two candidates for mayor trade accusations that each side stuffed drop boxes with bogus ballots. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)© Provided by The Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A woman approaches a drop box in the dark with what appears to be handfuls of ballots. At a different drop box, someone else is seen making multiple trips to insert ballots. At yet another, the same car stops on at least three separate occasions, with different people stepping out and heading to the box.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/drop-boxes-have-become-key-to-election-conspiracy-theories-two-democrats-just-fueled-those-claims/ar-AA1hQplQ?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=5cc71b556f164cefbe7df41d1b5b76e6&ei=13&fullscreen=true#image=2
It’s not a trailer for the latest conspiracy movie about rigged elections. Instead, the video footage has become central to a real-world controversy over potential fraud involving ballot drop boxes, a favorite target of right-wing conspiracy theorists since former President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.
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4.
https://www.gop.com/press-release/rnc-sues-detroit-for-deleting-dropbox-surveillance-footage/ 10-16-24
RNC Sues Detroit for Deleting Dropbox Surveillance Footage
Oct 16, 2024
WASHINGTON – Today, the RNC sued the City of Detroit Department of Elections for deleting drop box surveillance footage after we had requested it – violating the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and raising serious election integrity alarms.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated: “Deleting drop box surveillance footage while there is a pending FOIA request for it is an assault on transparency. This breach of trust is exactly what reduces confidence in our elections. We will hold Detroit accountable, as this secrecy has no place in a fair and secure election -- Michiganders deserve far better.”
Background:
- On August 20, 2024, we submitted a FOIA request for drop box video surveillance footage after being alerted to a potential election integrity concern during the primary election. We requested the footage from August 7th and 8th to verify the situation.
- Detroit immediately acknowledged our request on August 21st and asked for an extension to produce the footage. Then on September 16th, we received a response, letting us know that the footage was “automatically” deleted after 30 days.
- Deleting footage that is the subject of a pending FOIA request—submitted more than two weeks before the footage was deleted—is a clear violation of FOIA. Detroit had a clear legal obligation to preserve and provide the footage, which they violated.
- We are suing to hold the city accountable for its failure to maintain drop box footage while FOIA requests are pending and to ensure this does not happen for the general election.
- President Trump’s election integrity operation is combating these continuous acts of election interference. We are dedicated to securing a fair and transparent election.
