Incendiary attacks on ballot drop boxes in Washington, Oregon spark election security concerns
Oct 28, 2024, 11:29 AM | Updated: 4:53 pm
In this image made from a video provided by KGW8, authorities investigate smoke pouring out of a ballot box on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Vancouver, Wash. (Photo courtesy of KGW8)
(Photo courtesy of KGW8)
Authorities are investigating a coordinated series of incendiary attacks on ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington, raising concerns about election security just a week before a high-stakes election day.
Early Monday morning, an incendiary device was attached to the outside of a ballot drop box in Portland, Oregon, damaging three ballots. A fire suppression system inside the box, which works similarly to systems in restaurant kitchens contains the flames, assisted by the quick actions of a nearby security guard.
Hours later, another fire broke out at a ballot drop box in Vancouver, Washington, destroying hundreds of ballots, Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said. Investigators reported this incident was also caused by a device attached to the outside of the box.
Kimsey called the attacks “heartbreaking” and a “direct attack on democracy,” according to The Associated Press. He urged anyone who submitted ballots at the affected Vancouver drop box after 11 a.m. on Saturday to contact his office for replacement ballots.
“We won’t let arson or political violence interfere with our elections,” Kimsey said.
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He added that his office is enhancing ballot collection frequency and adjusting collection times to reduce overnight risks.
The Vancouver box is in Washington’s hotly contested 3rd Congressional District, where Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is defending her seat against Republican Joe Kent in a race that could impact control of the U.S. House. Both candidates quickly denounced the attacks and called for strong law enforcement responses.
“Southwest Washington cannot risk a single vote being lost to arson and political violence,” Gluesenkamp Perez said.
Kent echoed her sentiments in a video message, calling the attacks a “cowardly act of terrorism” and urging his supporters to ensure their ballots are counted.
“No one should be intimidated,” he added.
Surveillance footage from the Portland incident captured a Volvo near the ballot box just before the fire was discovered, potentially linking the vehicle to both attacks.
Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Mike Benner said that evidence from the incendiary devices suggested a possible connection with an earlier October 8 incident in Vancouver, where a device was placed near a ballot drop box but caused no damage.
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs condemned the attacks, stating in a press release that he would not tolerate attempts to disrupt lawful voting.
“I strongly denounce any acts of terror that aim to disrupt lawful and fair elections in Washington state,” Hobbs said.
Voters are encouraged to monitor their ballot status online. Voters who believe their ballots were destroyed and not received can request replacements through the Secretary of State’s website.
Since the 2020 election, six states have banned ballot drop boxes. However, Oregon and Washington remain committed to their vote-by-mail systems, with ballot drop boxes as a central component.
In Washington, 23% of the nearly 5 million ballots mailed to registered voters for the November 2024 general election have been returned, with 64% of these submitted via ballot drop boxes.
Following an October 8 incident, the Washington Secretary of State reinforced a previous recommendation for all county auditors to install fire suppression systems in drop boxes.
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Stuart Holmes, Washington’s Director of Elections, noted that the system’s failure in Vancouver may be due to the design of the drop box itself.
“There is a difference between what Clark County’s drop-off box looks like versus the one used in Multnomah County in Oregon, and that may have contributed to the placement and effectiveness of the device,” Holmes explained.
He further emphasized that while fire suppression can mitigate damage, it is not always a complete solution.
In Portland, election officials were able to identify and contact the three voters whose ballots were damaged and will provide replacement ballots.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office announced that it would increase both uniformed and plainclothes patrols around ballot boxes to deter similar attacks. Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott confirmed the county has deployed private security officers for “roving patrols” to monitor drop boxes around the clock.
The FBI has joined the investigation and is urging anyone with relevant information to contact law enforcement immediately.
Contributing: The Associated Press
Matt Markovich often covers the state legislature and public policy for KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Matt’s stories here. Follow him on X, or email him here.
