Nevada election officials guarantee ballot security after drop box fires in other states

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KSNV) — Election officials are assuring Nevada voters that Nevada’s elections are safe and secure after two ballot drop boxes were set on fire in Pacific Northwest states, destroying ballots.

On October 28, two ballot boxes were set on fire, one in Portland and the other in nearby Vancouver, Washington.

Only three ballots were damaged. An early morning fire in a storage box in Portland was caused by a fire suppression system inside the box that helped extinguish the flames, as well as by a security guard who was nearby, police said. There were hundreds of ballots destroyed in Vancouver box.

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar said preparations for Tuesday, November 5 have been underway for 18 months, and the state is prepared for any situation, including ballot fires.

“If this situation happens in Nevada, we have a plan to deal with it,” Aguilar said. “Every mail ballot issued statewide has a unique identifier, a unique bar code. We will be able to identify this ballot if it is lost or, in this situation, destroyed.”

He also said voters can check their voter profile or call their local clerk.

News 3 reached out to Clark County about election security. An emailed statement from Lorena Portillo, Clark County Registrar of Voters, said:

“Clark County works closely with local, state and federal officials on election security issues throughout the year. This remains a top priority as the department has worked over the past four years to strengthen security measures through our strong partnerships with law enforcement. For security reasons, we will not disclose details of the security measures in place, but all voters should feel safe while participating in the election.”

Gov. Joe Lombardo announced Monday that he would mobilize 60 members of the state National Guard to support local law enforcement on Election Day.

Activation will be limited to the support of state and local resources. The National Guard will remain on standby and will be stationed at National Guard installations in Carson City and Las Vegas.