Hundreds of ballots left exposed at Skid Row homeless shelter ahead of LA election

Hundreds of election ballots were discovered piled in an open hallway at The Midnight Mission, a homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles, according to a California Post investigation. The shelter, which serves over 1,160 registered voters, is known for providing meals and mail services to its residents. The ballots were found during a visit to the facility on October 13, and the newspaper authenticated a photo of the scene.

The discovery follows a previous report by the California Post that exposed 7,600 voter registrations linked to homeless shelters and service providers across Los Angeles, including some that do not offer a single bed. The Midnight Mission stated that election ballots should be kept under lock and key until they are distributed. Georgia Hawley, the organization’s chief communications officer, confirmed that ballots were stored securely during her visit to the mail center.

The shelter handles large volumes of mail for its residents, and Hawley explained that limited mailroom space requires deliveries to be received, sorted, and distributed throughout the day. The Post also reached out to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli to inquire about federal investigations into election ballots on Skid Row. Essayli confirmed an ongoing investigation but declined to comment on The Midnight Mission specifically.

Republican congressional candidate Scott Meyers criticized the handling of election mail, citing both the postal system and organizations responsible for receiving and distributing ballots. Meyers pointed to photographs of ballots left unattended in apartment building lobbies and blamed the U.S. Postal Service for failing to ensure ballot security.

Nico Ruderman, a Venice Neighborhood Council member and former public office candidate, called the discovery disappointing but unsurprising. He emphasized that even if there is no fraud, the perception of insecurity could undermine voter confidence. Ruderman is advocating for a ballot initiative to reform California’s election procedures.

Source: Read the original report