Two ballot drop boxes, one in Portland, Oregon, and another in Vancouver, Washington, became the targets of incendiary devices early on October 28. The fires destroyed hundreds of ballots, and prompted heightened election security measures.
Both incidents are currently under investigation, with authorities linking them to a similar attempted attack earlier this month. Officials across both states are urging voters to verify their ballot status and take precautions to ensure their votes are counted.
Around 3:30 a.m. on October 28, Portland police responded to reports of a fire at the Multnomah County elections office ballot drop box. Officers found an incendiary device attached to the box, and while the fire was extinguished quickly, the Portland Police Bureau’s Explosive Disposal Unit later cleared the area of remaining device materials. Mike Brenner, a spokesperson for the PPB, noted that only three ballots were damaged, with the affected voters set to receive assistance in obtaining replacements.
In Vancouver, however, the impact was far greater. Authorities reported that hundreds of ballots were destroyed in a similar incident involving an incendiary device. Interim Vancouver Police Chief Troy Price confirmed this was the second such incident in the area this month, with a previous attempted attack on October 8. Surveillance footage revealed a suspect vehicle in both locations, identified as a Volvo, and police believe the same perpetrator is responsible for both attacks.
Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey called the Vancouver incident a “direct attack on democracy,” citing damage to potentially hundreds of ballots. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs condemned the attacks, stating, “We will not tolerate acts of terror that seek to disrupt lawful and fair elections.”
Election officials in both states have taken immediate steps to prevent further attacks. Tim Scott, Multnomah County’s elections director, confirmed that while the fire suppression system in the Portland ballot box operated as designed, damage was still minimized.
Vancouver officials, however, are now considering upgrades to their fire suppression devices to prevent such occurrences in the future. The Clark County elections office has also committed to increasing the frequency of ballot retrievals and modifying collection hours to prevent overnight ballot storage.
The FBI has opened a joint investigation with local and state officials, calling on the public to report any information that could assist in identifying the perpetrators. Local security patrols around drop box locations have also increased, with private security personnel monitoring Multnomah County drop boxes round-the-clock.
Washington and Oregon voters, accustomed to their vote-by-mail systems, have been urged to verify their ballot status online at www.VoteWA.gov. Those who used the affected drop boxes are encouraged to contact their local elections offices for a replacement if their ballot has not been marked as received.
Election authorities are working to safeguard voters’ confidence in the voting process. As officials continue their investigation, voters are advised to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity near ballot drop sites.
The attack on the Vancouver drop box occurred amid a highly competitive race in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District between incumbent Democrat Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican challenger Joe Kent. Gluesenkamp Perez issued a statement supporting local and federal law enforcement efforts to secure the voting process. She also called for overnight law enforcement surveillance of Clark County ballot drop boxes through Election Day, emphasizing that “Southwest Washington cannot risk a single vote being lost to arson and political violence.”
The series of incidents has sparked concern among voters and raised questions about the security of ballot drop boxes. Election officials and community leaders have stressed their commitment to ensuring the integrity of the election.