Arrest Made In Boston Ballot Box Fire That Destroyed 35 Ballots

BOSTON — A Boston man was arrested late Sunday night after authorities said he set fire to a Copley Square ballot box early Sunday morning.

Worldly Armand, 39, will be arraigned on a charge of willful and malicious burning. Police said officers recognized Armand in Copley Square and found he had a warrant out of Ipswich District Court for receiving stolen property.

Police said Armand was caught on surveillance lighting fire to the ballot box in front of the Boston Public Library around 4 a.m. Sunday. The fire destroyed 35 of the 122 ballots inside. Voters are asked to check their ballot status here and immediately contact the Elections Department if they used the box between 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday.

The fire prompted Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin to tell his local election officials to improve security around ballot boxes.

"What happened in the early hours of this morning to the ballot drop box in Copley Square is a disgrace to democracy, a disrespect to the voters fulfilling their civic duty, and a crime," Galvin and Mayor Marty Walsh said in a joint statement. "Our first and foremost priority is maintaining the integrity of our elections process and ensuring transparency and trust with our voters, and any effort to undermine or tamper with that process must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We ask voters not to be intimidated by this bad act, and remain committed to making their voices heard in this and every election."

U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling and FBI Special Agent In Charge Joseph Bonavolonta said in a statement maintaining the integrity of the election is a top priority ahead of Election Day.

"Voters in Massachusetts can feel confident in the success of the information sharing protocols that we have established with our local, state and federal election security partners in advance of the 2020 election," they said.