A U.S. postal worker in Utah has been charged with discarding 300 mail-in ballots in a dumpster shortly before the state's primary election on June 23. According to Justice Department officials, the 34-year-old mail carrier, Damon Matai Seei, stated he did not have a political agenda and had also discarded other mail while disposing of the ballots. Melissa Holyoak, U.S. attorney for the District of Utah, noted that approximately 95% of voters in the state utilize mail-in voting, and it remains unclear whether the affected voters were able to cast their ballots. Seei claimed he made a 'poor decision' due to feeling overwhelmed and did not intend to throw away any ballots. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of destruction and delay of mail and is no longer employed by the U.S. Postal Service.
The Justice Department announced the charge during a news conference aimed at promoting 'election integrity.' Federal prosecutors have prioritized potential voter fraud cases, which are rare, amidst ongoing claims from former President Donald Trump regarding noncitizen voting. The Supreme Court recently declined to enforce Trump's mail-in ballot restrictions. During his presidency, Trump has made unsubstantiated claims about winning the 2020 election and has sought to limit mail-in voting.
The Justice Department has charged 70 cases related to voter fraud during Trump's second term, with more cases anticipated. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter emphasized the department's commitment to protecting American citizens' votes. The Civil Rights Division is enhancing its election monitoring program with a focus on 'ballot security,' despite facing legal challenges regarding its efforts to seize voter rolls.
Voting rights experts assert that while isolated instances of fraud can occur, they do not occur at a scale that could have influenced the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which was won by Democrat Joe Biden. The Justice Department has also recently charged individuals in various election-related cases, including noncitizens from multiple countries. Seei's next court appearance is scheduled for November 30, and his federal public defender has not yet commented on the case.