Authorities are actively investigating a series of arson attacks that have affected ballot boxes in Portland and Vancouver, with the FBI suspecting the incidents may be connected. These attacks have raised serious concerns about voter safety and ballot security in the area.
The first incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday, October 28, when a fire was reported around 3:30 a.m. at a ballot drop box near the Multnomah County Elections Division office on Southeast Morrison Street in Portland. By the time police arrived, security staff in the area had managed to extinguish the flames. Officials later found that an incendiary device had been set off inside the ballot box, sparking the fire. Fortunately, only three ballots were damaged, thanks to a built-in fire suppressant inside the box. Multnomah County election officials are now working to contact those voters directly to offer replacement ballots.
A half-hour after the Portland incident, another fire broke out at a ballot drop box in Vancouver, Washington, located at the C-TRAN Park & Ride at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center. Smoke was seen billowing from the box, and a suspicious device was discovered nearby. The Metro Explosive Disposal Unit (MEDU) safely collected the device while firefighters extinguished the flames. Unfortunately, the fire significantly impacted this ballot box, with U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez confirming that “hundreds of ballots” were likely destroyed. The last ballot collection at this location was at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, meaning that anyone who deposited their ballot after this time is encouraged to contact the Clark County Elections Office for a replacement.
During a press conference later on Monday, authorities confirmed their belief that the incidents are connected. This suspicion extends to a similar incident that took place earlier in the month on October 8 in Vancouver, where another suspicious device was found near a ballot box. Although the device was safely removed at that time, the recurrence of these incidents has increased concerns about the security of ballots as Election Day approaches.
The FBI, in partnership with local law enforcement, is taking charge of the investigation and is urging anyone with information on the attacks to come forward. The FBI’s statement highlighted a coordinated effort with federal, state, and local partners to thoroughly investigate the arsons and determine who is responsible. They have set up a hotline, 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324), as well as a tip submission platform at tips.fbi.gov, where members of the public can provide information that may assist with the investigation.
Multnomah County’s Elections Director Tim Scott reassured voters by highlighting the security measures in place, including fire suppressants and unique identifiers on ballot envelopes that enable officials to track ballots and reach out to affected voters when needed. “Your elections team is working hard to make sure every vote counts,” Scott said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust in the voting process.
As the investigation progresses, the community remains on high alert, committed to upholding the integrity of the election while cooperating with authorities to bring those responsible to justice.