As early voting in the US presidential election continues, ballot drop boxes were set on fire in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, on Monday.
Authorities suspect these two separate incidents are related to an earlier one on October 8, when an incendiary device was placed at a different drop box in Vancouver.
Law enforcement agencies in both cities observed that the same Volvo was sighted at both scenes, noting that the incendiary device deployed in Portland was “similar in nature” to the one used in Vancouver. Hundreds of ballots were reported destroyed, and authorities labeled the acts as deliberate and aimed.
This assault comes as millions of voters continue submitting their ballots in a high-stakes election. Officials previously announced that almost 42 million ballots had already been cast.
Washington and Oregon both follow a vote-by-mail system.
Washington’s Secretary of State Steve Hobbs strongly condemned the attacks, declaring, “I strongly denounce any acts of terror that aim to disrupt lawful and fair elections in Washington state,” adding that any attempts to interfere with the voting process would not be accepted.
Voters were urged to verify the status of their ballots online to confirm they had been received. According to the secretary of state’s office, if a ballot does not appear as “received,” voters can print a replacement ballot or secure one from their local elections department. Registered voters receive ballots by mail several weeks before election day, returning them by mail or via designated ballot drop boxes.
Tribune
