Social media users who claim video footage of Maricopa County drop-boxes prove people dumped fraudulent ballots during the Arizona midterm elections have no real background. In Arizona, it is legal to post ballots on behalf of other people.
A Twitter user shared an eight-minute video of various people dropping multiple ballots into a Maricopa County drop-box a few weeks before the Arizona midterm elections, captioned: attached. Video of multiple people putting their ballots into the Maricopa County ballot box. ” This tweet, at the time of writing, has received over 2,600 likes and he has received 1,500 retweets (here).
One Instagram user shared a video with the caption, “We got mules again in Maricopa County” (here), (here).
The term “Mule” refers to conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza’s documentary “2000 Mule”. He claims that 2,000 “mules” were hired by an unnamed nonprofit to “harvest ballots” or to drop fraudulent absentee ballots into ballot boxes. 2020 presidential election country. A previous Reuters fact check found that the film provided no verifiable evidence of voter fraud (here).
Megan Gilbertson, director of communications for the Maricopa County Elections Authority, confirmed via email that the video was filmed at the Maricopa County Tally and Election Center.
The same dropbox live video feed in Phoenix that has been the focus of social media allegations is available at the Phoenix dropbox feed (here).
However, the video does not show any criminal activity.
According to Arizona law, a family member, household member, or caregiver can legally withdraw a ballot on behalf of another voter (here).
“There is no legal provision limiting the number of ballots someone can return,” Gilbertson added.
Another Reuters fact-check article debunked claims on social media during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections that “collecting ballots,” or withdrawing ballots for someone else, is a large-scale voter fraud. claimed to lead to (here).
“Only registered voters who requested early voting will be sent,” Gilbertson said. “Early voting can be canceled immediately if voters vote in person or request an early voting alternative,” Gilbertson said.
When Maricopa County officials receive ballots, trained staff will verify the signature on the ballot and match it to another signature on the voter’s file. If the signature is not approved the first time, it will be reviewed again by the manager. If the manager cannot verify the signature, contact the voter to verify the signature and vote (here).
In Arizona, tampering with and discarding a ballot is a class 5 felony that carries a fine of up to $150,000 and a minimum sentence of two years in state prison (.here), (here).
verdict
No proof. A video of an individual dropping multiple ballots into a Maricopa County drop-box is in itself not evidence of voter fraud. Arizona law allows voters’ family members, household members, or caregivers to legally post their ballots. Arizona does not limit the number of ballots an individual may post on behalf of another person.
This article was produced by Reuters fact-checking team.Read more about fact-checking work here .
