Voter registration offices in Orange and Riverside counties were evacuated Friday evening after receiving bomb threats, but no explosives were found at either site, authorities said.
All Orange County Registrar of Voters staff and members of the public were evacuated from the Santa Ana office 15 minutes before the facility stopped processing ballots, officials said in a statement. Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were already on scene and coordinated the evacuation of the building located at 1300 S. Grand Ave.
Bomb detection dogs were used to search the entire building and no explosives were found.
“The Orange County Registrar of Voters is committed to ensuring equal access to the election process, protecting the integrity of votes, and maintaining a transparent, accurate and fair election system,” the Registrar of Voters said. voters Bob Page in a statement. “We are working diligently to address this incident and ensure the safety of all staff and members of the public who visit our office.”
A similar, unfounded threat was also received Friday evening by the Riverside County Registrar of Voters at its Riverside office.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department was immediately notified and members of the public and staff were evacuated from the site located at 2720 Gateway Drive within five minutes. Sheriff’s deputies and members of the bomb squad conducted an extensive search and found no explosives, according to the registrar.
“The Riverside County Registrar of Voters remains committed to the safety of the public and our staff,” officials said in a statement. “We continue to prioritize transparency and encourage the public to observe all processes while ensuring fair, accurate and transparent elections. »
On Election Day, false bomb threats were made to dozens of polling places in key states including Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona, but none were deemed credible.
