A Miami-Dade County election worker was terminated after a sealed ballot bin and bag fell from an unsecured truck Monday night, drawing swift attention from observant residents who reported the issue. This rare incident occurred shortly after early voting ended at the South Dade Regional Library.
Christina White, the Supervisor of Elections for Miami-Dade, explained that the mishap was a result of “human error” and reiterated the department’s “zero tolerance” for any breaches in ballot security. The worker involved was “distraught” over the incident, which resulted from failing to lock the truck’s rear door.
NEW: Miami-Dade County terminates elections employee after box of ballots found on the side of the road pic.twitter.com/VTTwO9OHzo
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) October 29, 2024
Local residents who witnessed the items on the street acted quickly, retrieving the materials and bringing them to the police. White referred to them as “upstanding citizens” who helped preserve the election’s integrity by ensuring the ballots were returned promptly.
The Miami-Dade Elections Department reviewed the ballot bin and bag, confirming their seals were intact with no evidence of tampering. White explained that the ballots in the bin had already been counted, assuring voters that the incident had no impact on election results.
The bag also contained a single provisional ballot, which will be reviewed under standard procedures. Following this incident, Miami-Dade election staff have been reminded of all security protocols to prevent future errors.
White reassured the public that Miami-Dade’s commitment to election integrity remains strong, with all necessary measures in place to protect ballot security.