Authorities in Oregon are actively investigating a series of fires that have occurred at ballot drop boxes in the region over the past few weeks. The incidents have raised concerns among officials, with a police spokesperson stating that there is a possibility the suspect may continue to target these locations.
Three separate ballot boxes have been targeted by arsonists, resulting in significant damage to ballots and the drop boxes themselves. In one instance, approximately 475 damaged ballots were recovered from a burned ballot box in Vancouver, Washington. Election officials are currently assessing the extent of the destruction caused by these fires.
One of the incidents involved the discovery of an 'incendiary device' attached to a ballot drop box in Portland, Oregon. Fortunately, the majority of the ballots remained unharmed due to the presence of fire suppressant technology installed in the box.
Investigators have connected these recent fires to a previous incident on October 8, where another ballot box was set ablaze in Vancouver. The authorities are working diligently to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for these destructive acts.
The community is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities near ballot drop boxes to law enforcement. The integrity of the electoral process is paramount, and every effort is being made to ensure that voters can safely and securely submit their ballots during this critical time.
