Authorities in Oregon and Washington state have identified a “suspect vehicle” connected to incendiary devices that caused fires at ballot boxes in both states. The Portland Police Bureau released surveillance photos of a black or dark-colored Volvo S-60 they believe is involved in the fires. Three ballots were destroyed in a fire at a ballot box in Portland, Oregon, and later hundreds of ballots were destroyed in a fire at a drop box in nearby Vancouver, Washington. The incidents were deemed intentional and targeted, and authorities are concerned about impacts on the election process.
The incendiary devices were placed on the outside of the boxes, and authorities were able to recover evidence to connect the two fires. The incidents were also linked to a previous incident in which an incendiary device was placed at a different ballot box in Vancouver. Authorities do not yet know the motive behind the acts but are dedicated to stopping this behavior. Greg Kimsey, the auditor in Clark County, urged voters to contact his office for a replacement ballot if they dropped their ballots in the transit center box after a certain time. Police will increase patrols and employees will observe ballot boxes until after the election.
The FBI is actively investigating the incidents in coordination with federal, state, and local partners. They are urging anyone with information to come forward and are taking the matter seriously. These incidents come after a situation in Phoenix where mail-in ballots were damaged when a U.S. Postal Service mailbox was lit on fire. The suspect in the Arizona case has been arrested and charged with arson. Authorities are on high alert leading up to the election and are taking measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the voting process.
The incidents in Oregon and Washington have raised concerns about the potential impact on the election and democracy as a whole. Authorities are working diligently to determine who is responsible and prevent any further attempts to undermine the election process. The incidents come at a time when tensions are high in the country leading up to the election, and any attacks on the voting process are taken seriously. The FBI is actively investigating the incidents and is urging anyone with information to come forward.
Vancouver, the largest city in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, is a key area for an important U.S. House race between a first-term Democratic representative and a Republican challenger. The attacks on ballot boxes in the area have raised alarms and led to increased security measures around voting locations. Employees will be monitoring the boxes 24/7 until after the election to prevent any further incidents. The authorities are determined to ensure the safety and security of the voting process and are committed to stopping any attempts to disrupt it.
The incidents in Oregon and Washington, as well as the situation in Arizona, highlight the vulnerability of the voting process to attacks and raise concerns about the integrity of the election. These incidents come at a critical time in the country, with tensions running high and the outcome of the election uncertain. Authorities are taking the situation seriously and are working to identify those responsible for the attacks on the ballot boxes. The FBI has issued a plea for information from the public and is actively investigating the incidents to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The safety and security of the voting process are of utmost importance, and authorities are committed to protecting the democratic process.