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Ballot boxes set on fire in Oregon, Washington sparking chaos

Online Niel October 30, 2024

The FBI and authorities in the Pacific Northwest were searching for suspects Tuesday ballot boxes were set on fire in Washington and Oregon, damaging hundreds of votes the week before Election day.

In Oregon, Portland police said they responded fire reports at the polling booth in the Buckman neighborhood around 3:30 a.m. Monday. Thirty minutes later and less than 15 miles to the north, Vancouver police responded to a fire at the ballot box.

Months later, Portland police released two photos of a vehicle that investigators believe was linked to both fires. It was described as a black or dark 2001-2004 Volvo S-60 with no front license plate and an unknown rear plate.

“We do not know the motive behind these acts,” Deputy Chief Amanda McMillan said in a statement. “We know that such acts are targeted and intentional. And we are concerned about that intentional act that tries to affect the electoral process.”

McMillan said her department was “dedicated to stopping this type of behavior.”

The FBI said in a statement to USA TODAY that it is “coordinating with federal, state and local partners” to investigate the fires. The FBI declined to comment on whether the fires would be investigated as domestic terrorism.

Hundreds of damaged ballots in Washington; limited damage in portland

Voting in both states is almost entirely by mail and drop boxes. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee called the fires a “violent attack on democracy” and promised increased 24-hour security at polling places.

“We will do everything to keep our election system strong and secure in Washington,” he said. “Our state and local election teams are fully committed to making sure that every person’s vote is counted fairly and accurately.” It will be improved in 24 hours. security around the polling stations”.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said the box fire suppression system failed and “hundreds” of ballots were destroyed in the Vancouver fire. The last pickup from the ballot box took place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Kimsey told USA TODAY.

Kimsey said voters who believe their ballot was in the polls when the fire occurred can request a new ballot at the county’s voting site. He also said that police and civilian security would be increased around the polling booths and the collection of votes would take place at 5:30 p.m.

In Oregon, Multnomah County election official Tim Scott said the fire suppression system worked in his box. Three ballots were destroyed in the Portland fire and those voters will be contacted, Scott said.

Second ballot box fire in Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver police said Monday’s arson was similar to one took place on October 8 before the ballots were mailed out, according to The Oregonian. The Vancouver poll is located in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, where Democratic House Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is seeking to retain her seat, which she won by less than 3,000 votes in 2022 against Republican challenger Joe Kent.

Both candidates condemned the fires.

“Southwest Washington cannot risk a single vote being lost to arson and political violence,” Gluesenkamp Perez said. said in a statement. “We cannot give in to intimidation and must continue to stand up against unpatriotic acts like this.

“Stay focused on determining voter turnout and early voting, don’t be dissuaded from voting by a cowardly act of terrorism,” Kent said on X.