In Portland, Oregon, and nearby areas, multiple fires have targeted ballot drop boxes, causing election officials to express concern over potential attacks on the voting system. According to local police, two fires occurred on Monday, which are believed to be linked to a third incident. Reporting for Oregon Public Broadcasting, Dirk VanderHart provides the details.
Early Monday morning, at 3:30 a.m., police in Portland were informed of a fire at a ballot box located outside the county election headquarters. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement in Vancouver, Washington, attended to a similar incident at a drop box at a transit center. A local news crew captured footage of officials salvaging partially burned ballots from the scene.
Authorities have suggested that the two fires were set by the same individuals using a device intended to ignite the ballots. These incidents are also connected to a previous failed attempt on October 8 at another ballot box in Vancouver. Evidence gathered at the scenes has led detectives to make these connections, stated Portland Police spokesperson Mike Benner.
The fire in Portland resulted in minor damage with only three ballots affected, whereas the incident in Washington possibly destroyed hundreds. Election officers are encouraging voters who used the affected boxes to request replacement ballots. These acts could potentially influence a closely contested U.S. House race in southwest Washington. Oregon and Washington, known for their long-standing practice of voting by mail and drop boxes, have seen such attacks causing unease among election personnel, including Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott, who noted this as an unprecedented event during his extensive tenure.
The motive behind the incidents remains unconfirmed, but investigators are pursuing leads, including a dark-colored Volvo possibly involved in the crimes. The FBI has also initiated an inquiry. Ballot drop boxes have faced heightened scrutiny and been the subject of conspiracy theories since 2020, according to Max Read of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
In response, police in the Portland area are intensifying patrols around drop boxes, with officials like Scott urging voters to be vigilant and report any unusual activities. The principal message from election officials continues to be the promotion of voter participation.
This report is brought to you by Dirk VanderHart for NPR News from Portland, Oregon.