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FBI Investigating 'Potential Issues' With Mail-In Ballots in Pennsylvania, DoJ Says

© REUTERS / MIKE BLAKEAn election worker places mail-in ballots into an election box at a drive-through drop off location at the Registrar of Voters in San Diego, California, U.S. November 5, 2018.
An election worker places mail-in ballots into an election box at a drive-through drop off location at the Registrar of Voters in San Diego, California, U.S. November 5, 2018. - Sputnik International
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The issue of mail-in voting in 3 November presidential election has been a point of contention between the US Democrats and President Trump. The US leader opposes the method as potentially leading to electoral fraud, but Democrats are touting it as a safe way to vote during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining possible problems with postal ballots in the state of Pennsylvania, the Justice Department said in a press release on Thursday.

"On Monday, 21 September 2020, at the request of Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis, the Office of the United States Attorney along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Scranton Resident Office, began an inquiry into reports of potential issues with a small number of mail-in ballots at the Luzerne County Board of Elections," the release said. 

The DoJ added that so far the investigation has uncovered only a small number of discarded ballots.

In this May 28, 2020, file photo a voter casts her mail-in ballot at in a drop box in West Chester, Pa., prior to the primary election. Just over four months before Election Day, President Donald Trump is escalating his efforts to delegitimize the upcoming presidential election - Sputnik International
Michigan's Top Election Official Says Mail-in Votes Could Take a Week to Count

The FBI said in the release that it has conducted numerous interviews and reviewed certain physical evidence related to the matter, noting that Luzerne county has been cooperative.

Nine discarded military ballots - all cast for President Donald Trump - have been recovered, the FBI added.

The FBI also said that it will share more information related to its findings later on Thursday.

The US is due to hold a national presidential election on 3 November when Americans will choose electors who will, in turn, vote for one of the two major candidates - either Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election, or former Vice-President Joe Biden for whom this is his third attempt at presidency.

Several states have already launched early voting, both in person and by mail as the coronavirus pandemic has forced some people to avoid visiting polling stations - an idea supported by the Democrats.

President Trump, however, has repeatedly slammed the practice as leading to potential electoral fraud.

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