A reporter found a voting machine storage facility in Philadelphia to be unlocked and unsupervised when he showed up to investigate the recent theft of voting materials.
Max Marin, an investigative reporter with WHYY, said he spent several minutes alone in a warehouse that is being used to store voting machines. Marin, who was at the facility on Thursday to ask about a recent theft of a laptop and several USB memory sticks, walked in through a propped-open door and announced himself several times, but said no one was around to supervise him.
“A laptop and USB devices were stolen sometime this week from the Philadelphia’s elections storage warehouse. I went over this morning to check out the security situation. I was able to walk right into the voting machine storage unit, alone, for several minutes,” Marin tweeted.
Marin also posted a video of his walk through the warehouse.
“I just walked into an election warehouse in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. The door was open. There was a theft that occurred of a computer and some USB devices sometime this week and I’m here in this warehouse where all of the voting machines are stored,” Marin said.
“Again, I just walked in that door. I’ve been announcing my name trying to see if anyone is here. I quite easily could take any number of things with this level of access,” he added.
A laptop and USB devices were stolen sometime this week from the Philadelphia’s elections storage warehouse.
I went over this morning to check out the security situation. I was able to walk right into the voting machine storage unit, alone, for several minutes. pic.twitter.com/N0SpMMKP6T
— Max M. Marin (@MaxMMarin) October 1, 2020
Marin shouted “hello” several times and said he was unable to spot any security cameras inside the facility. He eventually found an employee of the facility after walking to the far end of the warehouse. The staff member told him that no press was allowed in the building. Marin said a city official told him that a security guard was supposed to be on the property at all times.
“Deputy City [Commissioner] Nick Custodio told me that a security guard should be stationed there at all times now. He was not for some reason. I did see a security walking to the other end of the property when I pulled up,” Marin tweeted.
“There’s a man sitting in the door now, more staffers coming in and out of the building. I likely just walked in at a moment where no one is around, but the ease of access was still alarming to me,” he added.
There’s a man sitting in the door now, more staffers coming in and out of the building. I likely just walked in at a moment where no one is around, but the ease of access was still alarming to me. pic.twitter.com/YvZZhNiFoU
— Max M. Marin (@MaxMMarin) October 1, 2020
Mayor Jim Kenney revealed that the election items had been stolen in a statement Wednesday. He said the city was investigating the issue, but told residents that the situation should not deter them from voting. Marin said he was told by the city that the laptop that was stolen has been disabled.
After Marin’s unsupervised visit to the facility, Kenney announced that he had increased the security in all election facilities. Guards will be present at voting facilities 24 hours per day and each warehouse will have to log who enters and exits the facilities.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the City of Philadelphia for comment.
