Officials arrest 39-year-old for Boston, Mass. ballot drop box arson

October 26, 2020 Kayleigh Venne US 0

Courtesy of Boston Police Department

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 3:26 PM PT – Thursday, October 22, 2020

A 39-year-old Boston, Mass. man has been taken into custody in connection with what officials are calling a “deliberate act of arson” to a ballot drop off box. Worldy Armand was arrested Sunday night and was charged with willful and malicious burning.

This came after video surveillance showed a man setting fire to a ballot drop-off box in Boston’s Copley Square.

BPD Investigating Ballot Box Fire in the area of 700 Boylston Street in Boston. https://t.co/8FYA34H815 pic.twitter.com/FNrO1PpEUg

— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) October 25, 2020

Secretary of State William Gavin and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh issued a joint statement that stated this crime was a complete disgrace to democracy.

https://t.co/KAcyG8DqlJ pic.twitter.com/zmvS1vkUQF

— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) October 25, 2020

An initial inventory was done by the Boston elections department which counted a total of 122 ballots in the drop-off box, 87 of which were reportedly unaffected by the arson.

The City will mail a new ballot to all those voters whose ballots were identified as being in the Copley Square dropbox at that time. If those voters do not recast ballots, the City will hand count the ballots recovered from the box.

— Boston Election Department (@BostonElections) October 25, 2020

“My immediate concern is to notify every city and town clerk in Massachusetts,” stated Gavin. “I sent out an urgent directive this afternoon to secure ballot drop boxes, if at all possible, have them inside of municipal facilities.”

The Democrat added that if it seems necessary, police officers may be staffed at drop boxes for extra security and the compensation issues can be dealt with later.

If you used our Copley Square ballot dropbox on Saturday, October 24, between 2:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. today, please contact us at 617-635-2211 to check the status of your ballot.

— Boston Election Department (@BostonElections) October 25, 2020

Authorities have advised anyone who used the Copley Square ballot drop box after 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday to check their ballot status or call the Boston election department immediately.