Voting Box Fires in Portland and Vancouver: Are They Connected?

Early Monday morning, voting box fires were reported in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. Authorities suspect these incidents might be linked due to similarities, including the use of an identical Volvo at both scenes. Portland police described the fires as targeted and intentional. Three ballots were damaged in Portland, while potentially hundreds were affected in Vancouver. In Portland, a suspicious device was used to ignite the fire in a Central City district ballot box. Security personnel promptly extinguished the flames. The Portland Police Bureau is continuing their investigation, with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office increasing patrols around ballot boxes. Authorities assured voters that their votes will still be counted due to fire suppressant inside the boxes.

An hour later, Vancouver police responded to another voting box fire near Fisher's Landing Transit Depot. They found a suspicious device and extinguished the fire. Vancouver’s Metro Explosive Disposal Unit collected the device, and the FBI is involved in the investigation. Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey indicated that hundreds of ballots might be damaged and advised voters who dropped off ballots after Saturday morning to check their status. The fires come amid heightened security around voting processes nationwide. Extremists inspired by conspiracy theories pose a risk, leading some jurisdictions to add extra security measures like drones and bulletproof vests. Previously, Vancouver's bomb squad dealt with a suspicious device near a downtown ballot box, which was safely removed. The fires occurred in Washington's 3rd Congressional District, where the race between Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Trump-backed Republican Joe Kent is highly competitive. Gluesenkamp Perez has requested law enforcement presence at all ballot boxes through Election Day. Kent urged voters to stay focused on voting despite the incidents.

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