A U.S. Postal Service mailbox full of mail-in ballots in Phoenix, Arizona set on fire Early Thursday morning, many ballots and other pieces of mail were damaged. About 20 of the ballots were damaged, according to the Phoenix Fire Department; Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes’ office said the number of affected ballots was still changing.

The mailbox was a drive-up collection box at a post office in Phoenix, which is currently a purple battleground state that favors Democrats. final vote It shows former President Donald Trump holding a small lead over Vice President Kamala Harris.

While mail-in ballots have become a popular method of voting during COVID-19, federal officials have since warned these ballots may be lost or damaged in transit. At the same time, allegations by some GOP officials of mail-in voting open up the possibility of mass voter fraud. has long been disproved.

Fire department spokesman Rob McDade said the fire was extinguished and the facility reopened. Authorities are investigating surveillance footage and the local postal inspector recovered the damaged mail, but neither the perpetrator nor his purpose has been identified.

Democratic Party member Fontes said he was “deeply disturbed by the arson attack.”

“This deliberate act of vandalism undermines the integrity of our democratic process,” he said in a statement. “We have sent fire suppression equipment to counties across Arizona to prevent such incidents and protect our election process.”