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Burnt ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington cause chaos

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Burnt ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington cause chaos

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The FBI and authorities in the Pacific Northwest were searching for suspects Tuesday after ballot drop boxes were set on fire in Washington and Oregon, disrupting hundreds of votes a week before Election Day.

In Oregon, Portland police said they responded to reports of a fire at a ballot box in the Buckman neighborhood around 3:30 a.m. Monday. Thirty minutes later, less than 15 miles north, Vancouver police responded to a ballot box arson.

Later Monday, Portland police released two photos of a vehicle that investigators believe was involved in both fires. It was described as a black or dark 2001-2004 Volvo S-60 with no front license plate and unknown rear license plate.

“We do not know the motive for these actions,” Assistant Police Chief Amanda McMillan said in a statement. “We know that such actions are targeted and deliberate. And we are concerned about this deliberate action trying to influence the electoral process.”

McMillan said her department is “committed to stopping this type of behavior.”

In a statement to USA TODAY, the FBI said it was “coordinating with federal, state and local partners” to investigate the fires. The FBI declined to comment on whether the arson would be considered domestic terrorism.

Hundreds of ballots damaged in Washington; damage limited in Portland

Voting in both states occurs almost entirely by mail and drop boxes. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee called the fires a “vicious attack on democracy” and promised to beef up 24-hour security at ballot drop-off sites.

“We will do everything to ensure our election system in Washington remains strong and secure,” he said. “Our state and local election teams will be fully committed to ensuring that every person’s vote is counted fairly and accurately.” security around ballot collection sites.”

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said the ballot box’s fire suppression system failed and “hundreds” of ballots were destroyed in the Vancouver fire. The last removal of ballots from the drop box occurred at 11 a.m. Saturday, Kimsey told USA TODAY.

Kimsey said voters who believe their ballot was in the box at the time of the fire can request a new ballot on the county’s voting website. He also said there will be increased police and civilian security around ballot collection boxes and ballot collection will occur at 5:30 p.m.

In Oregon, Multnomah County Elections Commissioner Tim Scott said the fire suppression system did work. Three ballots were destroyed in the Portland fire and those voters will be contacted, Scott said.

Second ballot box arson in Vancouver, Washington.

According to The Oregonian, Vancouver police said Monday’s arson was similar to one that occurred on Oct. 8 before mail-in ballots were sent out. The Vancouver ballot box is located in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, where Democratic Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez is trying to retain her seat, which she won by fewer than 3,000 votes in 2022 against Republican challenger Joe Kent.

Both candidates condemned the arson.

“Southwest Washington cannot risk losing a single vote to arson and political violence,” Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement. “We cannot be intimidated and we must continue to stand up to unpatriotic actions like this.

“Focus on increasing voter turnout and early voting, don’t let a cowardly act of terrorism keep you from voting,” Kent said on X.