The Bucks County Board of Elections on Wednesday afternoon was made aware of, and immediately removed from Bristol Borough Hall, a mock ballot drop box that had been used previously as a “dancing drop box” costume.
Six voters appeared to have deposited their mail-in ballots in the box. The Board of Elections retrieved these ballots from the box and segregated them. The owners of those ballots will be contacted. The Board of Elections promptly contacted the District Attorney after securing the ballots and confiscating the box.
Upon learning that the person responsible for placing the mock drop box was slated to work as a per diem, temporary employee for the Board of Elections, the county released the person from employment. At the time the person placed the box, the person was not yet a county employee.
Placement of the mock drop box was at no time sanctioned by the Board of Elections. The county verified with the person that Bristol Borough Hall was the only location where such a box was placed.
The Board of Elections takes seriously its commitment to ensure everyone’s right to vote, and that is why its members voted unanimously to keep the official drop boxes under 24/7 video surveillance and staffed during all hours of operation.
While the Board of Elections maintains jurisdiction over ballot and election matters, criminal investigations are handled by the District Attorney’s Office. As such, the offices work together on a case-by-case basis.
For hours and locations of official mail-in/absentee ballot drop boxes, visit buckscounty.gov/elections.
Media Contact: Eric Nagy, 215-444-2806, ejnagy@buckscounty.org