Arson investigated after ballot drop box catches fire in California

A ballot box in Baldwin Park, Calif., caught on fire on Sunday, damaging dozens of ballots and leading authorities to open an arson investigation, according to CBS Los Angeles.

Witnesses describe heavy smoke coming out of the box. Firefighters placed a hose into the slot to extinguish the flames and then cut off the top of the box in order to remove the ballots.

It is unclear how the fire started, but authorities are treating it as a possible arson incident. An estimated 60-100 ballots were damaged, the local outlet reported.

The use of ballot boxes have come under increased attention in this election given the coronavirus pandemic, which is expected to lead to a huge surge in mail-in voting. Many people are expected to avoid voting the day of the election to guard public health. 

There have also been controversies over the boxes. 

The fire incident comes a few days after the California Republican Party and California state officials reached an agreement about unauthorized ballot boxes placed around the state by the state GOP.

Despite initially saying they would continue to collect ballots through the boxes, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced Friday that the party had agreed to cease use of the boxes.

Experts predict the highest percentage of eligible voters could come out to cast ballots this year since 1908.