In the hot California desert 150 miles north of Los Angeles, a group of hikers found dozens of boxes with voter ballots from Tuesday’s primary elections in the Sierra Desert.
Experts estimate over 250,000 ballots were in the boxes.
The boxes came from counties all over the state and dumped in an isolated desert where people rarely travel due to rough terrain and dangerous temperatures. However, a group of hikers had planned to explore the area and dig for artifacts, when they uncovered the crater full of boxes.
One hiker, Samantha Trist, told the Los Angeles Times, “We thought we found something big, a dinosaur or something but it turned out to be thousands of boxes.
“A friend opened one up and realized they were voting ballots from Tuesday.”
The ballots were very new and dated from June 6th’s California primary elections.
“We weren’t sure what to do so we called the police. But before they arrived, a dozen black Suburban trucks came and men in black suits began packing up some of the boxes.
“But there were so many. So, another truck came and sprayed what I thought was water on them. But it must have been gas cause another guy flicked a match and the remaining ballots went up in flames.
“We were then ordered to leave the premises and tried forcing us to sign non-disclosure agreements. Some signed them, but I and my friends refused.”
The hikers were transported to a local truck stop without incident.
The California Voter Committee has begun an investigation. All ballots end up being destroyed, but this was against policy.
Bernie Sanders staffers are offering an award for any civilian to find more ballot boxes in the desert, the mountains, or abandoned factories.
Sanders said, “This news is very upsetting, very upsetting. Why are a quarter million ballots in the California desert? How did they get there and why?
“But this is a little bump in the road as we continue our fight to Philadelphia.”
