The FBI is investigating after ballot drop boxes were deliberately set on fire in heavily Democratic parts of Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. These attacks, which officials believe are connected, damaged hundreds of ballots and have raised concerns about election security.
The first fire happened early Monday at a ballot drop box at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center in Vancouver. A device attached to the box started a fire that destroyed hundreds of ballots inside.
Shortly after, a similar attack targeted a ballot drop box at the Multnomah County Elections office in southeast Portland.
Thankfully, this box had a fire suppressant inside, so only three ballots were damaged. Officials plan to contact those voters to ensure they can vote again.
Authorities believe these incidents are connected to an attempted arson at a different Vancouver ballot box on October 8, which caused only minor damage. All three incidents took place in areas that generally support Democratic candidates, which has raised questions about the attackers’ motives.
“This is heartbreaking—a direct attack on democracy,” said Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey, who oversees elections in Vancouver. In response, Clark County officials have stepped up security around ballot drop boxes, scheduling patrols 24/7 and picking up ballots every evening. Voters who used the Vancouver box after 11 a.m. on Saturday are encouraged to check their ballot status and request replacements if needed.
Security footage from Portland captured a dark-colored Volvo S-60 near one of the fires, which police believe may be connected to all three incidents. Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan of the Portland Police said that while the attackers’ motives aren’t clear, the fact that these fires were set on purpose is concerning.
These attacks happened shortly after the Department of Homeland Security warned that ballot drop boxes could be at risk of being targeted by extremist groups. Oregon and Washington are well-known for their use of mail-in and drop-box voting. Following the attacks, Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh called for an end to mail-in and drop-box voting.
Democratic leaders, including Sen. Maria Cantwell, urged people not to let the attacks stop them from voting.
With Election Day approaching, both Democratic Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and her Republican challenger Joe Kent condemned the attacks. The race between Perez and Kent in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is expected to be close, and both candidates emphasized that every vote must count. Gluesenkamp Perez called for added security around ballot drop boxes, while Kent expressed confidence that law enforcement would handle the situation. Officials are working to prevent further incidents, reassuring voters that extra security measures are in place to protect the voting process in these Democratic-leaning areas.
