Former USPS Worker in Utah Indicted for Discarding Mail-In Ballots

A former U.S. Postal Service worker in Utah, Damon Matai Seei, has been indicted for allegedly mishandling over 300 mail-in ballots. He reportedly set aside these ballots at the start of his shift and discarded them without delivering a single one, according to the Department of Justice officials.

The federal grand jury indicted Seei, 34, from Payson, Utah, on September 16. The charge concerns the unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail. He was arrested and made his initial court appearance in Salt Lake City.

Prosecutors allege that Seei was working as a letter carrier on June 3. He was tasked with delivering mail to over 300 residents in Eagle Mountain, Utah, ahead of the state’s primary election on June 23. The mail included advertisements and mail-in ballots that were clearly marked as such, according to DOJ officials.

Officials stated that Seei separated the ballots from the rest of the mail soon after starting his shift. None of the ballots were delivered; all were discarded within about ninety minutes. Additional mail was also discarded.

Several voters subsequently complained to the Utah County Clerk about not receiving their mail-in ballots. Using county databases, the clerk noted low voter participation in the area where complaints were lodged, as reported by U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah.

Investigations continue, and federal officials plan to reach out to affected voters to see if they received replacement ballots or were able to vote. Seei has told investigators that his actions were not politically motivated, DOJ officials said.

When American voters lawfully cast their vote, they should feel confident that it is counted, stated Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. Allegedly throwing away hundreds of ballots is a serious federal crime that undermines the integrity of our elections. Ballot integrity is not a partisan issue.

This case was investigated by the USPS Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations. Seei’s next court appearance is scheduled for November 30.