Authorities are investigating after early morning fires were set in ballot drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of ballots. In Portland, a fire was reported in a ballot drop box around 3:30 a.m., where an incendiary device was found inside. Fortunately, a fire suppressant in the drop box protected the majority of the ballots, with only three being damaged. Multnomah County Elections Director mentioned plans to assist the affected voters in obtaining replacement ballots.
Shortly after in Vancouver, smoke was seen billowing out of a ballot box at a transit center. Despite having a fire suppression system, the box failed to prevent the destruction of hundreds of ballots. Clark County Auditor expressed dismay over the incident, calling it a direct attack on democracy. Voters who used the affected drop box were advised to contact the auditor's office for new ballots.
Following the incidents, measures are being taken to enhance ballot security. The collection frequency of ballots will be increased, and collection times will be adjusted to evenings to minimize the risk of similar crimes occurring overnight. This comes after an incendiary device was discovered near a ballot drop box in downtown Vancouver earlier this month, although no damage was caused.
Both Washington and Oregon are vote-by-mail states, where registered voters receive their ballots by mail and can return them via mail or drop them in designated ballot boxes. In a separate incident in Phoenix, approximately five ballots were destroyed and others damaged due to a fire set in a drop box at a U.S. Postal Service station.
