A U.S. Postal Service mailbox in Phoenix, Arizona, was set on fire early Thursday morning, damaging several ballots and pieces of mail. A 35-year-old man was arrested in connection to the incident but claimed it was not related to the upcoming election. Approximately 20 ballots were damaged, but many undamaged ones were recovered. Voters were advised to check their ballot status online and request a replacement if needed.
The mailbox was located at the Post Office at 3905 North 7th Avenue and was a drive-up collection box for mail. The fire was extinguished, and the area has since been reopened. The Postal Inspector took possession of the damaged mail, and affected voters would be contacted. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer reminded voters to request a replacement ballot by October 25 if necessary.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes commended the response of local fire and police departments, as well as the USPS, for their quick action. He also mentioned that ballot drop boxes across the state have been equipped with security controls to prevent similar incidents. The incident did not significantly impact the voting process, and efforts were made to ensure that affected voters could still participate in the election.
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