A Florida driver discovered an early voting ballot box that had fallen onto a Miami-Dade County street on Monday. The incident was attributed to human error, according to Roberto A. Rodríguez, deputy supervisor of elections for the Miami-Dade County Elections Department.
The driver, Lazaro Padron, initially mistook the box and bag for garbage when he came across them on the road. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the items were labeled as 'Miami-Dade ballots' and were securely sealed.
Footage from Padron's car cameras captured the moment he found the items and picked them up, while other vehicles passed by. He promptly took the items to a nearby police station, where he was interviewed by officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the county elections department.
Upon examination, elections staff confirmed that all seals on the box and bag were intact, and no tampering or damage had occurred during the incident. The items were later transported to the elections headquarters for further review.
Although Padron was commended for his actions in retrieving the ballot box, he expressed concerns about the incident. He questioned how such an oversight could occur and raised the issue of the safety of transporting ballot boxes to ensure a fair election process.
Padron's vigilance in safeguarding the ballot box highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for stringent protocols in handling and transporting election materials to prevent similar mishaps in the future.
