Ballot Boxes in Portland and Vancouver Lit on Fire: Reports

Authorities in Oregon and Washington State are investigating an incident in which hundreds of ballot boxes were set on fire in Portland and Vancouver early on Monday morning.

In Vancouver, police confirmed that a fire erupted inside a ballot drop box at the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center, destroying several boxes. Images shared online captured dark smoke billowing from a ballot box near Southeast 162nd Avenue shortly after 6 a.m.

First responders arrived at the scene around 6:30 a.m. to find hundreds of ballots actively smoldering, prompting an immediate response from local law enforcement and fire departments. The motives behind the arson remain unclear, and investigations are ongoing.

Bomb Squad

In Portland, an incendiary device was used to ignite a fire in a ballot drop box, according to police.

Security personnel on-site managed to extinguish the fire before first responders arrived.

According to police, the device was placed inside the ballot box to initiate the blaze, prompting a response from the bomb squad, which subsequently declared the area safe.

The Portland Fire Investigations Unit has launched an inquiry into the incident.

Newsweek has contacted Portland Police Bureau and Vancouver Police via email for further comment.

Hundreds of Ballots Destroyed

Meanwhile, in Vancouver, video footage shared online captured police near the site where burning ballots were scattered, continuing to emit heavy smoke even after the fire was extinguished.

The Clark County Auditor’s Office said that the drop box contained hundreds of ballots, the last of which were collected by election workers on Sunday morning.

Voters who submitted ballots after that time are urged to contact the Clark County Elections Office for guidance.

Anyone who deposited ballots on Sunday may request replacements via the Clark County Elections Office at clark.wa.gov/elections.need-replacement-ballot.

Have Ballots Been Attacked Previously?

In a concerning incident last week in Phoenix, officials reported that a fire lit at a U.S. Postal Service station resulted in the destruction of approximately five ballots, with additional ballots suffering damage. This incident highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in ballot security as states continue to navigate the complexities of mail-in voting.

In a related note, news outlet, The Columbian reported that earlier this month, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to a separate incident involving a suspicious device found near a ballot drop box on Esther Street in downtown Vancouver. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and that ballot drop box remained unharmed.

The Vancouver drop box is located just blocks away from key local government buildings, including the Clark County Courthouse and elections office.

Both Washington and Oregon operate as vote-by-mail states, allowing registered voters to receive their ballots in the mail weeks ahead of elections. Voters can return their completed ballots either by mail or by depositing them in designated drop boxes.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press