Authorities in Oregon and Washington state are on high alert after a series of arson attacks on ballot drop boxes. The suspect, described as a white man aged 30 to 40 with a background in metalworking, set incendiary devices on the drop boxes in Portland and Vancouver. The devices were constructed with expertise, indicating the suspect’s knowledge in fabrication and welding. Surveillance video showed the suspect driving a dark-colored Volvo with no front license plate. The devices were marked with the message “Free Gaza,” and a third device in Vancouver also had the words “Free Palestine.”
Investigations are ongoing to identify the suspect and determine the motive behind the attacks. Authorities are trying to ascertain whether the suspect genuinely held pro-Palestinian views or used the messages to cause confusion. The arson attacks resulted in the destruction and damage of hundreds of ballots, particularly in the Vancouver drop box where the fire suppression system failed to prevent the ballots from being scorched. Despite this, affected voters were urged to contact the county auditor’s office for replacement ballots.
Surveillance images captured the suspect’s vehicle pulling up to a drop box in Portland just before a fire was discovered inside. Thanks to the suppression system and a nearby security guard, the fire was quickly extinguished, with only three ballots damaged. In Vancouver, election staff identified 488 damaged ballots from the burned drop box, and 345 voters had requested replacement ballots as of Tuesday evening. Authorities are working to determine the exact number of destroyed ballots as some may have turned to ash. Election staff are sorting through the damaged ballots to assist voters in getting replacement ballots.
Authorities linked the fires at the drop boxes in Portland and Vancouver to an incident on October 8 at a different ballot drop box in Vancouver, where an incendiary device was also found. No ballots were damaged in that incident. Voters in Washington are advised to track the status of their ballots on the official website and contact the local elections department if their returned ballot is not marked as received. The police are continuing their investigations to apprehend the suspect responsible for the arson attacks on the ballot drop boxes. As the election season progresses, vigilance is essential to ensure the safety and security of the voting process in Oregon and Washington state.
