An election worker in Miami-Dade County has been dismissed after a box of ballots “fell” from a transport truck Monday evening, sparking concerns over ballot security. According to local news reports, a sealed ballot box and bag landed on the road after the vehicle’s rear door was left unlocked. The Miami-Dade Elections Department confirmed the incident, which occurred between 9:30 and 10 p.m., following early voting at the South Dade Regional Library.
Christina White, Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections, attributed the event to “human error” but stated that there is “zero tolerance” for such mistakes in elections. The ballots were meant for storage when the worker mistakenly left the truck door unlocked, allowing the items to fall onto the road as the vehicle pulled away from the polling site.
NEW: Miami-Dade County terminates elections employee after box of ballots found on the side of the road pic.twitter.com/VTTwO9OHzo
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White expressed relief that residents spotted the items and immediately reported them to police. She praised these “upstanding citizens” for ensuring the materials were safely returned to authorities without any sign of tampering.
The ballot box and bag, both with intact seals, were examined, and no ballots had been altered or damaged, White reported. She assured voters that the votes inside had already been processed and counted accurately, adding that this was the first incident of its kind for the department.
A provisional ballot in the sealed bag will undergo additional review, per election procedures, to ensure its accuracy and eligibility.
White reassured the public that steps have been taken to prevent such incidents, with election protocols reviewed and reinforced with all staff to maintain the integrity of Miami-Dade’s elections.
