A ballot box and bag fell from an unsecured Miami-Dade County truck on Monday night, leading to the dismissal of the election worker responsible. The items fell on the road shortly after leaving the South Dade Regional Library following a day of early voting.
Christina White, Miami-Dade’s Supervisor of Elections, attributed the incident to “human error,” noting that the worker forgot to lock the truck’s rear door. She emphasized the department’s “zero tolerance” policy for ballot security lapses, regardless of intent.
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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The materials were retrieved by nearby residents, whom White described as “upstanding citizens.” Their quick action in turning over the ballots to police ensured that the materials were returned safely to election officials.
An inspection confirmed that both the ballot box and bag remained sealed with no sign of tampering. The ballots had already been processed, ensuring no effect on the final count. White also stated that the bag contained a provisional ballot, which will be reviewed for eligibility.
Following the incident, the Miami-Dade Elections Department reinforced protocols with all workers to prevent similar errors. White expressed confidence in the measures taken, assuring voters that Miami-Dade remains committed to secure and transparent elections.
This incident has sparked renewed attention to ballot security, underscoring the importance of vigilant procedures as early voting continues across the county.
