Fires damage ballots in Portland and Vancouver as voters are urged to check ballot status; officials emphasize election security amid ongoing investigations.
Two fires at ballot drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, led to police responses early on Oct. 28, with one fire resulting in the destruction of potentially hundreds of ballots. Officials said at a press conference that they believe the incidents are connected and that they have identified a suspect vehicle.
At about 3:30 a.m. in Portland, officers responded to reports of a fire at a ballot drop box outside the Multnomah County elections office.
Mike Brenner, public information officer for the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), stated: “By the time officers arrived, I can tell you that security personnel in the area had already extinguished the fire. Our officers quickly determined that there was an incendiary device that had been attached to the ballot box, and that is what ignited this fire.”
The PPB’s Explosive Disposal Unit cleared the device, which is now in the custody of authorities.
PPB Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan acknowledged the heightened emotions surrounding the coming election, stating: “We do know that acts like this are targeted and they’re intentional, and we’re concerned about that intentional act trying to affect the election process. We’re dedicated to stopping that kind of behavior, and we’re working toward that today.”
In Vancouver’s Clark County, another “incendiary device” was placed in a drop box a few hours later, burning “hundreds” of ballots, as shown in footage from local ABC outlet KATU. First responders were seen pulling still-burning ballots from the box, which continued smoldering despite pouring rain.
Interim Vancouver Police Chief Troy Price noted that this was the second event of this nature in Vancouver this month, with an earlier incident on Oct. 8.
During that incident, he said, they got a call about smoke coming out of a ballot drop box and found a device next to the box, which was collected by the Metro Explosive Disposal Unit. The Oct. 28 incident was “very similar,” he said, with an incendiary device collected there as well.
By Chase Smith
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