Fact Check: Does the viral image show California primary election envelopes discarded in a dumpster?
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: Amid speculation surrounding California's primary election, a viral image circulating on social media has fueled claims that election envelopes were discovered in a dumpster in Sonoma Valley. The photo has sparked criticism and renewed allegations about election integrity among online users.
The image has been widely shared across X, Facebook, and Instagram, with some users suggesting it shows evidence of mishandled election materials linked to California's June 2, 2026, primary. Let us analyze the origins of the claim and fact-check the viral image's authenticity.
Claim: Viral image shows California primary election envelopes discarded in a dumpster
The rumor has been spread in the form of an image claiming to show election envelopes for California's June 2, 2026, primary election discarded in a Sonoma Valley dumpster.
The image, along with the claim, has been amplified by conservative commentators on X, including right-wing commentator Benny Johnson.
Similar posts have circulated on Facebook and Instagram amid ongoing debate over California's primary election process. President Donald Trump has repeatedly alleged, without evidence, that the state's election system is flawed.
While many users appeared to accept the claim as genuine, others questioned the image's authenticity and called for additional verification.
Fact Check: The image dates back to 2020 and shows old election envelopes
However, the viral photo does not show election envelopes from California's 2026 primary election. A reverse image search shows the image has been circulating online for several years.
The photo can be traced to September 2020, when it was falsely shared as evidence that election materials had been discarded ahead of the presidential election later won by Joe Biden.
The County of Sonoma addressed the claim at the time in a social media post, stating that "the pictures are of old empty envelopes from the November 2018 election that were disposed of as allowed by law."
The Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office reiterated that explanation in a statement to AFP on June 10, 2026.
"The image is of old empty envelopes from the November 2018 election that we took to a recycling center," the office said.
"There is no evidence that ballots in the current primary have been discarded. And the image isn't of ballots being discarded; as stated then and now, the image is of old empty ballot return envelopes that were being recycled."
Donald Trump questions California's vote-counting process
During a campaign-style stop in Wisconsin last week, Trump criticized California's vote-counting process and suggested the system was unfair.
“Can you imagine?” Trump asked the crowd. “It’s four days, and they still aren’t even close to telling you who won. You know why? Because they’re rigging the election, that’s why.”
“I’m not a big fan of Spain, to be honest with you, it’s gone very far left, but they had an election,” he said. “Similar size to the state of California, a little larger, actually, and every vote was in by 10 o’clock in the evening and counted.”
