Republican acknowledged owning unofficial ballot drop boxes. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California’s chief elections official on Monday ordered Republicans to remove unofficial ballot drop boxes from churches, gun shops and other locations and Attorney General Xavier Becerra warned those behind the “vote tampering” could face prosecution.Republicans refused, saying they are taking advantage of California’s liberal ballot collection law that allows anyone to collect ballots from voters and deliver them to county election offices.“As of right now, we’re going to continue our ballot harvesting program,” California Republican Party spokesman Hector Barajas said.Due to the coronavirus and concerns about health safety at polling places, California for.