Law enforcement officials in Oregon, Washington, and Arizona are currently investigating a series of deliberate fires set to early voting ballot boxes, which contained hundreds of ballots, as the nation approaches the election period. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are actively involved in probing these incidents, which appear aimed at disrupting the democratic process.
On October 28, the Portland, Oregon police department began an inquiry after discovering an incendiary device in a ballot box located in the Central City area. Fortunately, the fire suppression system in place prevented widespread damage, with only three ballots being affected. Tim Scott, the election director for Multnomah County, assured that the affected voters would be contacted and provided with replacement ballots.
Heightened Alert Following Arizona Incidents
Around the same time, a similar attack was reported in Vancouver, Washington. The local police described a ballot box as "smoking and ablaze." Images circulating on social media depict officers working to extinguish the flames while salvaging ballots. Although the exact number of destroyed ballots is unknown, Clark County election officials suspect the damage could be substantial.
While authorities have not yet confirmed a connection between the two incidents, the temporal and geographical proximity suggests a possible link, as noted by U.S. media outlets. Investigations in Portland identified a "suspicious vehicle," a black or dark-colored Volvo S-60 missing its front license plate, seen near the site. Portland Deputy Police Chief Amanda McMillan expressed concern over these acts, indicating a clear "intent to influence the electoral process."
In Arizona on October 24, two individuals were arrested for setting fire to a ballot box containing early voting ballots in a Phoenix suburb. This incident, which damaged about 20 ballots, has put Maricopa County—critical due to its large population—under special scrutiny for potential impacts on election results.
Federal Concerns and Security Warnings
In light of these events, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs strongly condemned the attacks, asserting, "We take the security of our election workers very seriously and will not tolerate threats or acts of violence aimed at undermining the democratic process." Echoing this sentiment, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade emphasized that an attack on ballot boxes "is an attack on our democracy and utterly unacceptable."
The DHS and FBI have issued alerts warning of potential election-related violence, particularly from extremist groups that may view ballot boxes as "attractive targets" for expressing their grievances. A DHS assessment from September identified "anti-government or anti-authority domestic violent extremists" as the principal threats to election security.
"The United States remains in a heightened and dynamic threat environment," a DHS spokesperson informed the VOA, noting that the department is collaborating with local and federal agencies to assess and mitigate emerging threats.
In a recent press conference, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced that the damaged ballot box in Portland has been replaced, and patrols will be reinforced in areas hosting ballot boxes to deter further attacks. This measure will also be implemented in Vancouver, particularly in Washington's congressional district, where Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez has requested additional surveillance until election day.
Following these incidents, some voters have second-guessed the decision to vote early. Among them, the Cuban-origin comedic duo Los Pichy Boys expressed their concerns on Instagram, stating, "If you ask me today, I think it was a mistake to vote early; I gave them two weeks to do whatever they want with my vote. It's sad to see everything that's happening. Let people choose, and let the deserving candidate win. Let America and Democracy win. Vote on election day; don't give them time to strategize."