Washington, Oregon ballot boxes damaged, FBI actively investigating the incident - report
The use of "incendiary devices" in both attacks is what connects the two incidents, officials believe.
Ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington used to collect early votes ahead of the upcoming US Presidential election were set on fire on Monday in what authorities believe are connected incidents.
A ballot box in Portland, Oregon, and a ballot box in the nearby city of Vancouver, Washington area, were set on fire, according to local police. The incidents are being investigated by the FBI amidst greater safety and security as the November 5 election nears.
"The FBI is coordinating with federal, state, and local partners to actively investigate the two incidents in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, in the early morning hours of Monday, October 28, to determine who is responsible," the agency told CBS News.
Hundreds of ballots destroyed
Footage from local news outlet KATU showed smoke pouring out of a Vancouver, Washington, ballot box, with multiple ballots appearing to be in flames. The box had not been emptied since 8 a.m. on Sunday local time, and hundreds of ballots were destroyed, the station said, citing local officials.
Breaking — Ballot Drop Boxes set on fire in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, WashingtonPolice said explosive devices were placed inside the boxes early Monday morning.Hundreds of ballots have been burned pic.twitter.com/ZObySwogox
— Katie Daviscourt (@KatieDaviscourt) October 28, 2024
An identical Volvo was spotted at both scenes, and the use of an "incendiary device" in Portland was similar to what occurred in Vancouver, the cities' police departments said. The Portland Police Bureau said the "incendiary device" was placed inside a sidewalk ballot box. But when officers responded to reports early Monday morning, nearby security personnel had extinguished the fire.
"We don't know the motive," Amanda McMillan, assistant chief of the Portland Police Department, told a news conference on Monday. "But we do know that acts like this are targeted and intentional."
Press Release: UPDATE: PPB Releases Photos of Suspect Vehicle in Ballot Box Incident (Photo) Link: https://t.co/r71JHZWpKE pic.twitter.com/giSXMINLq6
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) October 28, 2024
The Vancouver Police Department said it responded to an arson attack at 4 a.m. PDT on Monday and removed a "suspicious device" located next to the ballot box. Portland is just over the Oregon state line and is only 20 minutes by car.
"I strongly denounce any acts of terror that aim to disrupt lawful and fair elections in Washington state," Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said in a statement. "Despite this incident, I have complete confidence in our county elections officials’ ability to keep Washington’s elections safe and secure for all voters."
The Washington secretary of state's office further urged voters to check the status of their ballots online and to request a replacement if theirs was unaccounted for.
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