Ballots damaged after USPS mailbox fire in Arizona

Several ballots were damaged after a USPS blue collection mailbox was lit on fire in Phoenix, Ariz., according to the Phoenix Fire Department. 

Captain Rob McDade, a spokesman for the Phoenix Fire Department, said that an unknown individual set a fire inside a blue drive-up mailbox located at 3905 North 7th Ave in Phoenix, damaging electoral ballots and “additional” miscellaneous mail. The fire department forced the box open and extinguished the fire, according to McDade, 

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) told The Hill the postal inspectors are investigating the incident, adding that they have recovered the mail and other contents of the box, which includes election ballots and other mail. 

The local election commission is working with the postal inspector to “ensure any affected election mail is remedied and that other mail is routed to the appropriate parties,” according to USPIS. 

McDade said in a statement that officials with the police and fire department are also investigating the incident. 

“I have been alerted to the recent attack on a USPS collection box in Phoenix, which damaged several ballots,” Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) said in a statement to The Hill. “Thanks to the swift response coordinated between election officials, law enforcement, and the postal service, we were able to recover many undamaged ballots and affected voters will be contacted to make sure they’re able to cast a vote.” 

Fontes added that counties in the Grand Canyon state have ballot drop boxes with security controls to “prevent and detect physical attacks.”  

“Any attack that strikes at our democratic process carries criminal consequences,” Fontes said. “Ballot abuse is a felony in Arizona, and mailbox vandalism is a federal crime.” 

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer (R) said in a statement that officials are “waiting for details from law enforcement.” He said Thursday that voters who used the mailbox in the last 36 hours can check the status of the ballots here and reminded the state’s residents that Friday is the last day to request a replacement ballot.