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Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 26, 2020 in a Facebook post: Says over 1,000 mail in ballots were found in a dumpster in California. ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") * Elections * Facebook Fact-checks * California * Facebook posts ![\\"Samantha](\\" By Samantha Putterman September 28, 2020 # Ballots in California dumpster were actually old, empty envelopes from 2018 election #### If Your Time is short * The images show old, empty envelopes — not ballots — that were legally disposed of from the November 2018 election. See the sources for this fact-check As the Nov. 3 general election nears, posts intended to cast doubt on the legitimacy of mail-in voting are increasing on social media. Now a post on Facebook claims that a series of photos show over 1,000 mail-in ballots dumped in a California landfill. It says this is why Americans can’t trust voting by mail. \"1,000+ mail in ballots found in a dumpster in California,\" text above the images says. \"They were allegedly discovered in a Republic Services of Sonoma County central landfill. Do you trust mail in voting?\" \"This is why we can’t Trust a Mail In Election!\" the post’s caption reads. The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat potential false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) This is inaccurate. The photos in the post are real, but the pictured materials aren’t ballots, and they aren’t from 2020. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/322c808c00e73c217d17772ddd5a0eb5.jpg\\") ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/8b142c91ebe468a84a192e6df2b7b994.jpg\\") Instagram posts stated on August 13, 2024 in an Instagram post Videos of media talking about Tim Walz as a \"happy warrior\" are proof of government propaganda legalized by Barack Obama. ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Jeff Cercone • August 15, 2024 ![](\\" The County of Sonoma took to Twitter to debunk the false information, and said the images actually depict empty envelopes from the November 2018 election that were disposed of legally. The county asked people to share their notice to stop the spread of false news. \"Someone posted pictures on the web showing empty Vote-by-Mail envelopes from Sonoma County in recycling bins,\" the post reads. \"The pictures are of old empty envelopes from the November 2018 election that were disposed of as allowed by law. > Help us stop a false reportSomeone posted pictures on the web showing empty > Vote-by-Mail envelopes from Sonoma County in recycling bins. The pictures > are of old empty envelopes from the November 2018 election that were > disposed of as allowed by law. pic.twitter.com/0FrhnD3jHg > > — County of Sonoma (@CountyofSonoma) September 25, 2020 We rate this False. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Facebook post, Sept. 26, 2020 Twitter, Sonoma County twitter post, Sept. 25, 2020 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Samantha Putterman slide 4 to 6 of 15 ![](\\" ![](\\" Joe Biden stated on May 19, 2024 in a speech: Donald Trump wants to terminate the Affordable Care Act. ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Samantha Putterman • June 3, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Jared Polis stated on May 15, 2024 in an X post: Tariffs are a “direct, regressive tax on Americans” and President Joe Biden’s new tariffs on Chinese goods will “hit every family.” ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • May 17, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Paul Renner stated on April 4, 2024 in an interview: For health risk exceptions in Florida’s abortion amendment, “You\'re not even talking to a doctor to make that determination.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Maria Briceño • May 10, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Debbie Mucarsel-Powell stated on August 7, 2024 in un anuncio de radio de campaña: El senador Rick Scott no apoya las excepciones al aborto. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • August 16, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Debbie Mucarsel-Powell stated on August 7, 2024 in an ad: Sen. 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Says over 1000 mail in ballots were found in a dumpster in California