Authorities are investigating fires set at two ballot drop boxes in Portland and Vancouver, Washington, early Monday. The incidents occurred when incendiary devices ignited at both locations, destroying hundreds of ballots in Vancouver while causing minimal damage to the ballots in Portland.

Evidence from the incendiary devices at the location in Portland confirmed a connection between the two incidents and a third incident that occurred on Oct. 8 in Vancouver, according to The Associated Press and a news release from the Portland Police Bureau.

Authorities investigate links between ballot drop box fires

The first incident in Portland happened around 3:30 a.m. when Central Precinct officers responded to fire reports at a ballot drop box. When they arrived, security personnel working in the area had already extinguished the fire. Officers said the incendiary device was placed inside the ballot box used to set the fire, the news release states. Only three ballots were damaged in the incident.

Portland police released photos of a “suspected vehicle” believed to be involved in the incident early Monday. The car is a 2001-2004 Volvo S-60 with a missing front plate and an “unknown rear plate,” according to the news release. Investigators believe that the vehicle is also tied to the Vancouver incidents.

“We don’t know the motive behind these acts,” PPB Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan said in the news release. “We do know acts like this are targeted, and they’re intentional, and we’re concerned about that intentional act trying to impact the election process. We’re dedicated to stopping this kind of behavior.”

Authorities discovered the incident in Vancouver at a transit center where the ballot drop box was located. According to AP, Vancouver serves as the largest city in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, a race anticipated to be among the most competitive in the nation, with first-term Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican opponent Joe Kent.

Election official addresses arson incidents

Greg Kimsey, longtime elected auditor in Clark County, Washington, including Vancouver, called the incident “heartbreaking” and a “direct attack on democracy.” He advised voters who dropped their ballots in the transit ballot box after 11 a.m. Saturday to contact his office for a replacement ballot, per AP.

Fire suppression devices installed in the ballot boxes are designed to detect such incidents, but they did not effectively prevent the destruction of hundreds of ballots.

To prevent future arson incidents, Kimsey stated that the county had hired workers through a staffing agency to monitor drop boxes 24 hours a day until after the election. They have been instructed not to confront anyone but to call 911 if they notice anything suspicious.

Meanwhile, Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott announced they have hired private security officers to patrol the county 24 hours a day and monitor ballot boxes in these areas.

The FBI is also investigating the incidents.

City and state officials speak out

CNN reported that Gluesenkamp Perez requested overnight law enforcement officers to monitor the ballot drop boxes in Clark County through Election Day. She told reporter Kaitlin Collins that she was not upset about damaged ballots for partisan reasons but “because I’m an American who sees the corrosive and toxic environment that we’ve seen across the country come home in a really damaging and ugly way.”

Kent also condemned the act in a video shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling it a “cowardly act of terrorism.” “No one should be intimidated,” he said.

“I strongly denounce any acts of terror that aim to disrupt lawful and fair elections in Washington state. Despite this incident, I have complete confidence in our county elections official’s ability to keep Washington’s elections safe and secure for all voters,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said in a statement obtained by ABC 7 News.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee stated that the incidents were “attacks on democracy” and he will add more security to monitor these areas.

“This was a violent attack on democracy, and we will do everything to keep our election system strong and secure in Washington,” Inslee said in a statement. “There will be 24-hour enhanced security around ballot drop-off locations,” he said, per AP.

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