Politics in America has become a bit of a circus lately, and nothing gets people fired up quite like a headline about election interference. You’ve probably seen the chatter online about a republican who stole ballot dropbox or tampered with voting materials. It sounds like a plot from a political thriller, but the reality is often more nuanced—and sometimes weirder—than the viral clips suggest.
Honestly, when these stories break, they spread like wildfire. But if you look at the actual police reports and court filings from the last few years, you’ll find that "stealing a dropbox" usually isn't what people think it is. Sometimes it’s a misguided "test" of the system, and other times it’s a localized dispute over where these boxes should even be sitting.
The Curious Case of Larry Savage Jr.
If you’re looking for a specific name that fits the bill of a republican who stole ballot dropbox materials, Larry Savage Jr. is the guy who made major headlines in late 2024. He wasn't some random person off the street; he was a former Republican congressional candidate in Indiana.
Basically, this happened during a public test of the voting machines in Madison County. Now, usually, these tests are pretty routine and boring. You have a set number of test ballots, you run them through the machines, and you make sure the math adds up. On October 3, 2024, the math didn’t add up. Two ballots were missing.
According to the Indiana State Police, surveillance footage showed Savage folding two of those test ballots and sliding them right into his pocket. When the police showed up at his house with a search warrant, they didn’t have to look far. They found the ballots in his car.
Savage claimed he was innocent, calling the charges "bumped up," but the legal system didn't see it that way. He was charged with theft and destroying or misplacing a ballot. This case is a prime example of how even "test" ballots are treated with extreme seriousness by law enforcement. You can’t just walk off with election materials to prove a point about security.
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The Wausau Dropbox Disappearance
Then there’s the story out of Wausau, Wisconsin, which is probably the closest thing to someone actually "stealing" an entire box. In September 2024, the Republican mayor, Doug Diny, took it upon himself to remove a ballot drop box from outside City Hall.
He didn't do it under the cover of night. He actually wore a hard hat and used a dolly to wheel the thing inside his office.
The drama here was basically a power struggle. Diny argued that the box wasn't secure and shouldn't have been placed there without the City Council’s explicit approval. The City Clerk, Kaitlyn Bernarde, disagreed, noting that she had the legal authority to manage the box.
For a few days, the internet was convinced a Republican official had "stolen" a box full of votes. The truth was a bit more mundane: the box was locked, it was labeled "Kiosk Closed," and there wasn't a single ballot inside it yet. No votes were lost or tampered with, but the image of a mayor wheeling away a ballot box became a massive talking point for both sides of the aisle.
California’s "Unofficial" Box Controversy
We also have to talk about what happened in California back in 2020, because it still comes up in every conversation about the republican who stole ballot dropbox narrative. Instead of stealing boxes, the California Republican Party actually started putting their own out.
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They set up metal boxes at churches, gun shops, and party headquarters, some of them even labeled "Official."
The state’s Democratic leadership lost their minds. They issued cease-and-desist orders, claiming these boxes were illegal and deceptive. The GOP’s defense was basically: "Hey, ballot harvesting is legal in California. If a voter wants to hand us their ballot, we can collect it."
Eventually, the party agreed to stop labeling them as "official," but they kept the boxes. It was a classic case of legal gray areas being exploited for political gain. While no one "stole" a government box, the creation of "shadow" boxes created a massive amount of confusion for voters who just wanted to make sure their vote counted.
Why People Get This Wrong
One big misconception is that these incidents are part of a massive, coordinated effort to flip national elections. In reality, most cases involving a republican who stole ballot dropbox or tampered with ballots are isolated, localized, and—frankly—sorta amateurish.
- The "Whistleblower" Defense: Like Kimberly Zapata in Milwaukee, many people caught messing with ballots claim they were trying to "expose vulnerabilities." Zapata sent fake military ballots to a Republican representative to prove a point. She ended up with a felony conviction instead of a medal.
- The "Chain of Custody" Myth: People think a stolen box means the election is over. In reality, every ballot is tracked. If a box were truly stolen with ballots inside, officials would know exactly whose ballots were in there based on who had checked them out but not yet had them scanned.
- Political Grandstanding: Sometimes, like with Mayor Diny, the "theft" is really just a photo op that went too far. It’s about making a statement on policy rather than actually trying to change a vote count.
What Actually Happens to These People?
The US legal system doesn't mess around with election crimes. Even if you think you’re doing something for the "right" reasons, the law is pretty black and white when it comes to touching ballots that aren't yours.
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If you’re caught, you’re looking at:
- Felony Charges: Many states classify election interference as a high-level felony.
- Prison Time: These aren't just "slap on the wrist" offenses. Zapata faced up to three and a half years.
- Loss of Voting Rights: Ironically, many people who try to "save" the vote end up losing their own right to vote because of a felony conviction.
How to Protect Your Own Vote
If all this talk of stolen boxes has you feeling a little twitchy about your own ballot, there are a few things you can do to stay safe. Most states now have high-tech tracking systems. You can literally get a text message when your ballot is mailed, when it’s received, and when it’s officially counted.
If you use a drop box, make sure it’s at a government-sanctioned location. These are usually bolted to the ground, under 24/7 camera surveillance, and emptied by bipartisan teams. If you see a random box in front of a private business that looks like it was bought at an office supply store, maybe skip that one and head to City Hall instead.
To stay on top of your own ballot security, you should:
- Use Official Portals: Check your Secretary of State’s website for the exact list of approved drop-off locations.
- Sign Up for Alerts: Use services like "Where's My Ballot?" if your state offers them.
- Report Suspicious Activity: If you see someone tampering with a box or moving it, call the local elections office immediately.
The integrity of the vote depends on people following the rules, even when they’re frustrated with the system. While the headlines about a republican who stole ballot dropbox are flashy, the best defense against election interference is a well-informed and vigilant voter base.