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What we know so far – Firstpost

Posted on by Josh L
What we know so far – Firstpost

Days before the US presidential election, authorities are investigating the coordinated burning of two ballot boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.

Hundreds of ballots were destroyed in Vancouver, while Portland’s fire suppression system limited damage to just three ballots. The attacks raised concerns about election security and fueled debate over ballot box security amid persistent conspiracy theories.

First responders retrieve the burning contents of a ballot box used for early voting ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. election after it was set on fire in a suspected arson attack in Vancouver, Washington, U.S., in this Oct. 28, 2024, photo. with video File Image/Reuters
First responders retrieve the burning contents of a ballot box used for early voting ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. election after it was set on fire in a suspected arson attack in Vancouver, Washington, U.S., in this Oct. 28, 2024, photo. with video File Image/Reuters

What happened

Early Monday evening (local time), authorities reported a fire at a ballot box in Portland, Oregon. “Our officers quickly determined that there was an incendiary device attached to the ballot box and that’s what started the fire,” said Mike Banner, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau.

Fortunately, most of the 409 ballots in the box were intact, only three were damaged, according to Multnomah County Director of Elections Tim Scott. Representatives of the election commission are contacting these voters about replacement.

Just 30 minutes later, a second incident occurred in Vancouver, Washington, where incendiary devices were found in another ballot box. However, this time the fire suppression system failed, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of ballots.

“It’s heartbreaking. This is a direct attack on democracy,” said Greg Kimsey, the elected auditor of Clark County, which includes Vancouver. Officials are urging all voters who used a drop box in Vancouver after its last scheduled emptying at 11 a.m. Saturday to contact the county elections office to get a new ballot.

Are ballot boxes falsified?

Ballot boxes caught fire
increasing attention and criticism in recent years, particularly from conservative groups and conspiracy theorists who claim, without evidence, that the boxes facilitate voter fraud.

This has increased in 2020 following the release of the now-debunked film 2000 Mules, which falsely claimed that ballot-collection operations were dropping fake ballots into ballot boxes.

Read also:
How allegations of falsification of voting machines in the US caused voters to be skeptical

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recommended placing the boxes in high-traffic areas, under surveillance, ideally under video surveillance, to prevent tampering.

As security concerns grow, some counties, such as Clark County, are now adjusting their ballot collection schedules to prevent future attacks.

Where did the investigation go?

Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are currently investigating the attacks, and surveillance video in Portland captured a vehicle, possibly a Volvo, linked to the crime scene.

Portland Assistant Mayor Amanda McMillan said, “We know that this type of behavior is targeted and intentional … we are working to stop this type of behavior.” The incidents are also believed to be related to an earlier attempt on Oct. 8 in Vancouver, when a similar incendiary device was placed near a ballot box but did not cause significant damage.

In this image taken from video provided by KGW8, authorities investigate the scene as smoke billows from a ballot box on October 28, 2024 in Vancouver, Washington, US. Image file/AP
In this image taken from video provided by KGW8, authorities investigate the scene as smoke billows from a ballot box on October 28, 2024 in Vancouver, Washington, US. Image file/AP

Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade expressed outrage at the attacks, calling them “an attack on our democracy and completely unacceptable.” She added: “Whatever the motivation behind this incident, there is no justification for any attempt to disenfranchise voters.”

Similarly, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs reassured voters of the system’s resilience, saying, “We take the safety of our election workers seriously and will not tolerate threats or acts of violence designed to undermine the democratic process.”

How did the candidates react?

In the politically charged race for Washington’s third congressional district, candidates Marie Glusenkamp Perez and Joe Kent also responded to the attacks.

Peres, who won the seat by a narrow margin in 2022, advocated a stronger police presence at the ballot boxes and condemned “political violence or interference with our fellow citizens, election workers or voting infrastructure.”

Kent, a former Special Forces member and Trump ally, urged his supporters to stay focused and not panic, saying he was confident law enforcement would “get to the bottom of it.”

Portland Gov. Tina Kotek applauded law enforcement’s “quick response” and said on social media: “Voter intimidation or any criminal act to undermine the upcoming election is un-American and will not be tolerated.”

Why have ballot boxes become so important?

The use of ballot boxes, especially in vote-by-mail states like Oregon and Washington, has been common practice for years.

However, during the 2020 election, the use of these drop boxes skyrocketed amid the COVID-19 pandemic as more voters sought alternatives to in-person voting. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 27 states and Washington, D.C., have so far allowed ballot boxes, while six states, all with Republican legislatures, have since banned them.

A new ballot box is unloaded on October 28, 2024 in Portland, Oregon, USA. Image file/AP
A new ballot box is unloaded on October 28, 2024 in Portland, Oregon, USA. Image file/AP

In Fulton County, Georgia, for example, the number of ballot boxes was reduced from 38 in 2020 to just 10 this year under new election laws. Ohio and Iowa, among other states, have also restricted the use of dropboxes, with Ohio now only allowing one dropbox per county.

Meanwhile, Republican-controlled states such as Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and South Dakota have enacted outright bans, citing security concerns fueled by conspiracy theories surrounding ballot boxes.

Also see:

Although attacks on ballot boxes are rare, isolated incidents have occurred in the past. In 2020, the box was set on fire in Los Angeles County, although most ballots remained legible, allowing voters to be contacted and new ballots reissued. Representatives of the election commission hope that the recent attacks will not deter voters and undermine confidence in the voting process.

Read also:
Why does the US still rely on paper ballots for its elections?

With the help of agencies

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