Explosive device sets ballot box on fire, destroying hundreds of votes in competitive Washington state district

Ballot box for the competition Washington State House The fire broke out early Monday morning after an incendiary device went off, destroying hundreds of ballots, according to local officials.

Emergency crews were able to extinguish the flames while officials assessed how many votes were lost at the ballot box located at the Park and Ride near Fisher’s Landing Transit Center in Vancouver, across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.

“It appears that a device was attached to the outside of the ballot drop box, which resulted in the ballots being set on fire,” said Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey. told Oregon Live.

“We don’t have the exact number (of ballots), but it was in the hundreds,” Kimsey added

The auditor indicated that the last reception of ballots took place at 8 a.m. on Sunday, for CATU.

The fire was reported around 6 a.m. Monday.

Vancouver is the largest city in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, which is hotly contested between incumbent Congresswoman Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-Washington) and Republican Joe Kent.

Perez beat Kent by less than 3,000 votes two years ago and a nonpartisan Prepare a political report evaluates the rematch as a “draw”.

Across the river, the Portland Police Bureau responded to a ballot box set on fire around 3:30 a.m. Monday.

“By the time officers arrived, the fire had already been extinguished by security personnel working in the area. Law enforcement officers established that an incendiary device was placed inside the ballot box, which was used to set fire to fire,” – PPB explained in the statement.

There have been no reports of injuries, and it is not yet clear whether authorities believe the fires are related.

The Post has reached out to Clark County, the Vancouver Police Department and the Washington Secretary of State’s office for comment.