California officials decreased the pressure Friday on their legal standoff with the Republican Party over its illegal ballot boxes. Authorities said the party had agreed to enough reforms to address their fears for now.

"The California Republican Party can conduct valid collection activities, but they have to play by the rules and follow state law," California Secretary of State Alex Padilla told reporters.

But GOP officials continued Friday to insist that their actions were legitimate, aside from correcting some boxes that were mistakenly identified as "official" places for dropping off completed ballots. 

Party officials have said that they will continue to gather ballots using the bins, with workers monitoring the operation and distributing the ballots to county election offices.

The Republicans caused a battle between state officials and the GOP for allegedly stationing unofficial gray metal receptacles in Los Angeles, Orange and Fresno counties.

Before turning it over to election officials, California law allows the person receiving a voter's vote to fill out the details on the absentee envelope. State legislation also stipulates that another person must be chosen by a mail voter to return their ballot.

Issue continues to confuse the public

Padilla said that the bins had confused people, noting that the Republican Party has "tried to spin their criminal actions by playing the villain all week long."

He said that if his office gets any suggestion that state law is being broken, it "would not hesitate to act immediately on it."

Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said they are "making" sure that the law is followed. "We're not going to mother, or shepherd them through, every day of activity."

The state Republican Party countered late Friday morning to make no promises to the Attorney General or the Secretary of State.

California GOP spokesman Hector Barajas said nine attorneys general never wanted the California Republican Party to do anything but to include details about the policy and turn over documents, including voters' names, which the GOP failed to do.

Aside from concerns over the right to enforce the fairness of votes, the private bins have raised questions about the ballots' chain of custody.

The drop boxes, including gun stores, firing ranges, churches, and Republican Party headquarters, were installed at different sites. 

State election officials agree that there is a difference between designating a third party to supply an elector with a ballot and putting a ballot in an unofficial box.

The fight adds to the increasing political rancor in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election over charges of voter intimidation and voter fraud. 

California law forbids a ballot from being invalidated, but here's the catch

Although California law forbids a ballot from being invalidated if required material is not included by its collector, the individual accepting the ballot will also face criminal responsibility.

In a follow-up comment, Padilla's office said the "ineptitude or illegality of a political agent or a campaign volunteer," who handles ballots, may cause "significant legal implications." 

The Republicans allegedly discarded that opinion. "I wish there was a chain of custody requirement in the law. There isn't," lawyer Thomas Hilchatk told reporters. He said the secretary of state is "mistaken." 

Becerra and Padilla gave the party cease-and-desist letters. They claimed that the boxes breach electoral laws after the California Republican Party said it had placed unofficial ballot collection boxes in many counties.

The request was challenged by the California Republican Party, arguing they behaved inside the law while accusing Democrats of hypocrisy.

In both state and national affairs, the rivalry has reverberated to the highest levels. California Governor Gavin Newsom has blasted Republicans for trying to "fake, steal, and undermine our government."

Although the DCCC has accused them of exploiting the vote in competitive House districts, the NRCC has endorsed Republicans and raised the possibility of legal action.

The state GOP went "off the rails" by putting illegal ballot boxes in counties with battleground congressional district, former Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told CNN on Thursday. He called it "Micky Mouse stuff" that can cause serious types of consequences.

Check these out!

The Power of Hispanic Voters in 2020 Elections

Latino Voters Will Make the Difference in the 2020 Presidential Elections, If They Vote

Prince Harry Lost Title Over Comments on US Elections, Report Says