Newton Increasing Police Patrols At Ballot Drop Boxes

NEWTON, MA — The City Clerk's office is working with the police department to keep an eye on the Newton ballot drop boxes after secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin asked communities to step up security.

City Clerk David Olson said the city was increasing its police presence at the three ballot drop boxes all at Newton City Hall.

All three — there are two outside the front door of City Hall and one inside City Hall at the City Clerk's Office — are under constant video surveillance in well-lit areas, Olson said.

"All of our Ballot Drop Boxes are emptied regularly throughout the day from 8:30 am through 8:00 pm, seven days a week through the election," he said. "The Newton Police have been made aware of the situation in Boston and are regularly checking on the Drop Boxes at Newton City Hall."

This call to step up security comes after Boston police arrested a man accused of starting a ballot box fire downtown. The fire destroyed about 35 of the more than 100 ballots inside, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office.

The fire also prompted Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin to tell local election officials to improve security around ballot boxes, including making sure the ballot boxes are empty and locked on Halloween.

In Framingham, police officers have been stationed at the city's drop boxes.

Galvin and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh called the Boston ballot fire a "disgrace to democracy" 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," the said in the statement. "We ask voters not to be intimidated by this bad act, and remain committed to making their voices heard in this and every election."

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how .