1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing to express serious concern about the FBI's seizure of original 2020 voting records from Fulton County, Georgia's Elections Hub and Operations Center this week. This action threatens the integrity of our election system and sets a dangerous precedent for voter intimidation. The FBI removed entire pallets of previously archived and sealed ballot boxes, including absentee ballots, tabulator tapes, and voter rolls from the 2020 General Election. Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington raised critical questions about chain of custody, asking how officials can ensure these materials will be returned intact and unaltered. Commissioner Mo Ivory noted the volume made it nearly impossible to inventory what was taken. This seizure follows years of unsubstantiated voter fraud claims regarding Georgia's 2020 election, despite the state having audited and certified the results. The Fulton County election interference case brought in 2023 against Trump and 18 others was dropped in November. Trump's January 2, 2021 phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, asking him to find the votes needed to win the state, led to charges that all defendants denied before the case was dismissed. The search warrant cited possible violations related to election records retention and criminal penalties for intimidating voters or procuring false votes. However, seizing ballots years after certification, audits, and legal proceedings raises fundamental questions about whether this action serves justice or undermines public confidence in elections. I urge you to investigate this matter and take legislative action to protect election records from politically motivated seizures. Voters need assurance that their ballots remain secure and that election officials can maintain proper custody of voting materials. Our democracy depends on citizens trusting that their votes are protected, not subject to repeated challenges and removals from secure facilities years after elections conclude.