Drop Box Fires: A New Wave of Voting Concerns

Just before the 2022 elections, two drop boxes in the Pacific Northwest were set on fire. One in Vancouver, Washington, lost hundreds of ballots, while Portland, Oregon's system stopped the fire quickly, saving most ballots. Authorities are checking surveillance footage to find the culprit. Drop boxes have been around for years in states that use mail-in voting. Their popularity surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, 27 states and D. C. allow them. Rules vary, with some boxes inside buildings and others outside. Problems have occurred, like boxes hit by cars or set on fire. The U. S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency advises putting drop boxes in well-lit, high-traffic areas and monitoring them with cameras.

Conspiracy theories have targeted drop boxes, falsely claiming massive voter fraud. A movie called "2, 000 Mules" spread these claims without evidence. States have responded by banning or restricting drop boxes. Six states now prohibit them, and others have one box per county. Drop boxes have become a political tool, with groups livestreaming them and politicians using unfounded claims to raise money.

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