USPS confirms ballots were dumped, said they have been delivered

A North Jersey man posted a photo on Facebook on Friday of a large quantity of mail that includes a multitude of ballots, strewn adjacent to a dumpster.

“Just found two to 300 lb of mail dumped in a dumpster behind one of the banks I service. Including at least 200 ballots,” said Howard Dinger.  “This is the kind of stuff you just can’t make up. And yes it was reported to the local police and the postal police.”

The U.S. Postal Service declined to offer details of the incident beyond a confirmation.

“The mail you referenced was reported, collected and delivered,” said George Flood, a spokesman for the postal service.  “This matter was then turned over to our Office of Inspector General.  We are unable to comment further at this time.”

Still, it’s not immediately clear how local election officials will get around chain of custody issues.

Dinger said that the mail, including the ballots, were found in North Arlington and were intended to be delivered to West Orange residents.

“I found the mail personally and I can vouch for its authenticity. The local police were called and so were the postal police,” Dinger said on Facebook.  “And all the people that are pissed off about me posting this are probably postal employees that have done the same goddamn thing . That’s the only reason I can see for being pissed off about my post. So for all those who have a problem with what I posted go jump in a lake.”

North Arlington Chief of Police Scott Hedenberg did not respond to multiple calls to his cell phone and text messages beginning at 3:55 PM.

There was no answer at a phone number associated with Dinger.

This story was updated at 11:20 PM with comment from Flood.