Ballots Go Up In Smoke After Drop Boxes Set Ablaze In Washington And Oregon

According to authorities, a pair of ballot drop boxes located on either side of the Washington-Oregon border were torched recently, likely burning hundreds of ballots before they could be counted ahead of next week’s presidential election.

The incidents were reported Monday morning in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, according to the Daily Wire:

“Members of the Metro Explosive Disposal Unit (MEDU) arrived and safely collected the device, and the fire was extinguished. Detectives from the Vancouver Police Arson team and the Vancouver Fire Marshals also responded,” VPD added.

The police department said the investigation was handed over to the FBI. Officials told voters that if they dropped off a ballot at the location after 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, they should immediately contact the Election Auditor’s Office for a new ballot.

A few hours before the ballot box in Vancouver was set on fire, police just across the state border in Portland, Oregon, responded to a fire at a drop box in the southeast part of the city. Authorities said an incendiary device was also set off in the Portland drop box, according to KATU. Authorities did not disclose whether any ballots in the Portland drop box had been destroyed.

Reports of the blazes quickly spread via social media:

🚨Ballot drop boxes with completed votes have just been set on fire in Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR. Expect more wild stuff this week. Stay vigilant. pic.twitter.com/qTXHPXZc2h

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 28, 2024

First of all….who drops their ballot in a damn box like this?!? Take your lazy ass to a polling place and vote IN PERSON!!! pic.twitter.com/U6VqmehKEo

— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) October 28, 2024

BREAKING: Ballot drop box in Clark County, Washington was lit on fire. Hundreds of ballots were reportedly inside at the time. pic.twitter.com/yyaqghtHzo

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 28, 2024

As CNN reported, sources in both jurisdictions expressed optimism that the damaged ballots would still be counted:

Officials plan to contact the three affected voters “via unique identifiers on their ballot envelopes, so they can receive replacement ballots.” Voters who dropped their ballots at the box between 3:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Monday should reach out to the Multnomah County Elections Division if they have concerns, Scott said.

“Voters should be assured that even if their ballots were in the affected box, their votes will be counted,” Scott said.

The second ballot box was set on fire early Monday morning at a bus station in Vancouver, according to the Vancouver Police Department. When officers arrived, they found a “suspicious device” next to the box, which was smoking and on fire, police said.

The Clark County Elections Office said hundreds of ballots were damaged at the box in the C-TRAN Park and Ride at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center, CNN affiliate KPTV reported.

Laura Shepard, a spokeswoman for the city of Vancouver, said elections officials are asking anyone who may have placed a ballot in the box after 11 a.m. on Saturday to contact them to check the status of their ballot.

Here’s some additional coverage of the events: