Ballot Box Fires in Portland and Vancouver Spark Investigation

Early Monday morning, two separate incidents involving incendiary devices targeting ballot boxes rocked the Pacific Northwest.

Indendiary devices are weapons designed to start fires, such as explosives, dynamite, grenades, bombs, or similar.

The fires occurred in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington and have raised concerns about the integrity of this year's election and sparked a joint investigation by local and federal authorities.

Portland Fire

The first incident happened in Portland around 3:30 AM when the Portland Police Bureau responded to reports of a fire at a ballot drop-box located on the 1000 block of Southeast Morrison Street. Upon arrival, officers found that security had already extinguished the fire.

However, a deeper investigation revealed that an incendiary device had been placed inside the ballot box to ignite the fire. The Portland Fire Investigations Unit is actively working alongside police to determine the exact cause and motive behind the attack.

Vancouver Fire

Just after 4 AM, a similar incident occurred at the Fisher's Landing Transit Center in Vancouver, Washington. Local authorities responded to reports of a fire at a ballot box and found a suspicious device nearby.

The Metro Explosive Disposal Unit (MEDU) was called in to safely collect the device and extinguish the remaining fire.

While local arson investigators initially responded to the scene, the complexity of the case has led the Vancouver Police Department to hand over the investigation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Potential Impact on Ballots

The fires have raised significant concerns about the potential loss of American's ballots. Clark County Elections Auditor Greg Kimsey said that the last ballot pickup at the Vancouver location was on Saturday at 11 AM.

Unfortunately, due to the severity of the fire, only a few ballots may be recoverable from the hundreds that were likely inside the box at the time.

These attacks have elicited strong reactions from the community, with many outraged and concerned about the potential impact on the upcoming elections. Law enforcement agencies in both cities have emphasized the importance of election security and are urging citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious activity.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to determine the motives behind these attacks and to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.