By Steve Neavling
The FBI has launched an investigation into two ballot drop box fires in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., incidents believed to be linked and occurring just a week before Election Day.
Authorities in both cities reported that a matching Volvo was seen near the scenes, and an “incendiary device” was used in both cases, NBC reports. Portland police labeled the act as deliberate and targeted, noting the devices used in both cities appeared “similar in nature.”
In Portland’s Central City district, a device was placed inside a sidewalk ballot box, igniting a fire that was quickly extinguished by security personnel after officers responded around 3:30 a.m. Although three ballots were damaged, the Multnomah County Elections Division said that “fire suppressant inside the ballot box protected virtually all the ballots,” assuring voters that their votes would be counted despite the incident.
In Vancouver, however, officials reported that potentially “hundreds” of ballots were affected by the fire. Portland police, along with the Explosive Disposal Unit, removed the incendiary mechanism from the Portland drop box, and local and federal investigators are coordinating to determine whether the incidents are connected.
To prevent further disruptions, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office announced increased patrols around ballot drop boxes.
