Selena Gomez recently shared a TikTok video encouraging her followers to vote early for the upcoming U.S. presidential election. While the gesture aimed to promote civic participation, it sparked discussions online about the security of ballot boxes. Critics raised concerns about unattended voting boxes, especially since American voters typically do not need ID. However, officials emphasize that these ballot boxes are secured and monitored, following guidelines to ensure the integrity of the voting process.
‘IT’S TIME TO GO VOTE!!!’ Along with this enthusiastic message, a video of Selena Gomez casting her early ballot for the U.S. presidential election has surfaced, showing her in formal attire and voting in the street. The singer shared this moment with her followers on TikTok on October 28, urging them to participate as well. In the clip, she is seen holding her ballot and rushing to the nearest drop box to submit her vote for Kamala Harris.
A Debate on Election Security
This civic act unintentionally reignited discussions about election security. Many French internet users raised concerns regarding the risks associated with outdoor ballot boxes, which appeared to be unattended. One tweet that garnered 3 million views claims, ‘Americans vote without ID, no signature, and drop their ballots into unmonitored boxes… lol. I don’t know how they can claim there’s no vote manipulation in this country.’
The lack of ID requirement is a recurring point used by proponents of the electoral fraud theory, specifically targeting the ‘ballot boxes.’
These drop boxes actually facilitate mail-in voting, which is permitted in nearly all U.S. states. Under this system, voters receive their ballots at home, complete them, and then either mail them back or drop them off in designated boxes. This is exactly what Selena Gomez did before attending the premiere of the sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place. However, these drop boxes are very secure, as stated by the Bipartisan Policy Center in their review: ‘They are set up by government officials and are often monitored 24/7.’
Locks, Tamper-Proof Seals, and Cameras
Following the pandemic, the Election Assistance Commission issued guidelines aimed at helping states secure these boxes more effectively. All drop boxes placed in public should be ‘secured and locked at all times’, utilizing a lock held by a ‘member of the election staff or a designated team for box collection’, as well as ‘one or more tamper-proof seals.’
Typically, these drop boxes are monitored by an agent or ‘must be located in well-lit areas and be under video surveillance.’ In the absence of human or technological oversight, ‘they must be securely anchored to a fixed surface or an immovable object to prevent them from being moved or tampered with.’
Sometimes these boxes are even equipped with a fire extinguisher. For instance, earlier this week, nearly all of the 400 ballots in a drop box that caught fire in Portland, Oregon, were saved, with only three ballots damaged in the blaze. Other boxes in the city and in Vancouver, Washington, suffered fires that destroyed hundreds of ballots.