Former USPS Employee Indicted for Allegedly Discarding Over 300 Mail-in Ballots in Utah

<p>Damon Matai Seei, a former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) worker from Payson, Utah, was indicted on September 16 by a federal grand jury for allegedly discarding more than 300 mail-in ballots without delivering any. The indictment was announced by officials from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on September 22.</p><p>According to federal prosecutors, Seei was working as a letter carrier on June 3, when he was responsible for delivering mail to over 300 residents in Eagle Mountain, Utah, in advance of the state's primary election on June 23. The mail included advertisements and mail-in ballots that were clearly marked as ballots.</p><p>Officials stated that Seei separated the ballots from other mail shortly after starting his shift, did not deliver any of them, and discarded them within approximately an hour and a half. Other mail was also reportedly discarded.</p><p>Several voters later reported to the Utah County Clerk that they had not received their mail-in ballots, prompting an investigation. U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah noted that voter participation was unusually low in the area where the complaints originated.</p><p>It is currently unclear whether the affected voters received replacement ballots or were able to vote. Holyoak mentioned that federal officials are continuing their investigation and plan to reach out to affected voters to ascertain if they were able to cast their ballots.</p><p>Seei has reportedly told investigators that he did not have a political motive for his actions. The investigation is ongoing.</p><p>Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter stated, "When American voters lawfully cast their vote, they should feel confident that it is counted. Allegedly throwing away hundreds of ballots is a serious federal crime that undermines the integrity of our elections. Ballot integrity is not a partisan issue."</p><p>The case is being investigated jointly by the USPS Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Seei's next court appearance is scheduled for November 30.</p>