After a ballot box and bag reportedly fell from a Miami-Dade County truck Monday night, alert residents helped recover the items, leading to the termination of the election worker responsible. The materials had been on their way from the South Dade Regional Library when the truck’s rear door, left unlocked, allowed them to fall out.

Christina White, Miami-Dade’s Supervisor of Elections, described the error as a “human mistake” but stated that the department enforces “zero tolerance” for ballot security lapses. White added that the worker involved was extremely distressed over the incident.

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

Miami-Dade residents who noticed the materials on the road quickly brought them to police. White called them “upstanding citizens” and commended their responsible actions, which helped preserve the integrity of the election process.

The ballot bin and bag were both found sealed, with no signs of tampering. White confirmed that the ballots had already been counted, so no votes were compromised. The bag contained a provisional ballot that will undergo the usual review process before counting.

White reassured the public that Miami-Dade elections remain secure and transparent, with all ballot-handling procedures carefully reviewed and reinforced to prevent future errors.

The Miami-Dade Elections Department remains committed to voter confidence, implementing thorough security measures to maintain the integrity of each ballot.