Battle over Ballot Drop Boxes Commences

While many county elections officials throughout the state are up in arms about the Republican Party and other groups offering unofficial ballot drop-off boxes — located strategically by churches, gas stations, and gun shops — there’s no evidence of any such activity in Santa Barbara County. County elections czar Joe Holland said he’d heard the local GOP intended to place such boxes around, but added, “We told them not to.”

Greg Gandrud, head of the local Republican Party, stated, “The Santa Barbara County Republican Party is not operating any drop boxes,” but added, “Ballot collection in California is currently legal.”

Late this Monday, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla issued a cease-and-desist warning to any organizations operating such drop boxes, insisting that only county elections officials are authorized to provide that service. The head of California’s Republican Party, however, has challenged Padilla’s understanding of the law and has vowed to fight the Secretary of State — a star within statewide Democratic circles — in court.