Ballot drop boxes set on fire in Oregon, Washington
Hundreds of submitted ballots were destroyed in Vancouver, Washington
What happened
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are investigating fires set early Monday in two ballot drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, just across the Columbia River. Portland police said incendiary devices linked the blazes to each other and to an Oct. 8 arson attempt at a different ballot box in Vancouver. Law enforcement is searching for a Volvo captured on Portland surveillance cameras.
Who said what
Fire suppressants installed inside the boxes saved all the ballots on Oct. 8 and all but three in Portland, but the retardant device failed in Vancouver yesterday. Hundreds of ballots "are completely destroyed," longtime Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said to NPR. "It's heartbreaking. It's a direct attack on democracy."
The three Portland voters will be contacted for replacement ballots, officials said, but Vancouver voters should check the status of their ballots online and request a new one if necessary. The damaged ballots in Vancouver are from a "Democratic stronghold" in Washington's 3rd Congressional District, "home to one of the most closely fought congressional races in the country," The Oregonian said. Democratic incumbent Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez will need a strong showing in Vancouver to beat Republican challenger Joe Kent in their rematch.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Oregon and Washington vote by mail, and ballot boxes are longtime fixtures. But the drop boxes "have faced increasing criticism from Republicans and have been the focus of baseless right-wing conspiracy theories in recent years," The Associated Press said. The Department of Homeland Security warned in a September intelligence brief that drop boxes are viewed as "soft targets" in online "forums frequented by [domestic violent extremists] and other threat actors with election-related grievances," according to NPR.
What next?
Officials in Portland and Vancouver said they would increase patrols and surveillance of ballot drop boxes.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The six-seven meme that has taken over the worldIn the Spotlight With roots in rap and basketball, the phrase has young people obsessed, and it could be here to stay
-
Five takeaways from Plaid Cymru’s historic Caerphilly by-election winThe Explainer The ‘big beasts’ were ‘humbled’ but there was disappointment for second-placed Reform too
-
A journey through Trinidad’s wild heartThe Week Recommends Experience the island’s natural wonders, from watching baby turtles hatch to visiting an ancient bat cave
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
