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Ballots in the hallway: How California can restore lagging faith in our elections

by Jay Rogers, opinion contributor - 10/28/26 7:30 AM ET

by Jay Rogers, opinion contributor - 10/28/26 7:30 AM ET

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File Outside the Midnight Mission in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles.

Hundreds of mail ballots sat piled in an open hallway at a Skid Row shelter this month, according to a California Post investigation. Reporters said they authenticated a photo and confirmed the scene on October 13 at the Midnight Mission, where 1,160 voters are registered.

The mission says its policy is “locked doors.” A hallway, last I checked, lacks doors. California can end this argument without proving that anyone cheated — it must lock down the ballots, verify the rolls and publish the results of both.

The asset at risk here is confidence.…