Two ballot drop boxes were destroyed in Portland and Vancouver, Washington, in what appears to be suspected cases of arson one week before Election Day.
Only three ballots were destroyed in the Portland drop box as the fire was quickly extinguished by a suppression system. At the ballot box in Vancouver, however, hundreds were lost as the suppression system inside failed to activate. To prevent fires from further damaging the ballots, the suppression system is designed to release a powder when the ballot reaches a certain temperature.
The two cases of arson are reported to be connected. Today’s events are also reportedly connected to another Oct. 8 incident when a different ballot drop box was targeted in Vancouver. Although no ballots were harmed, officials say an incendiary device was placed inside the box to start a fire.
Ballot drop boxes have recently been the target of several far-right conspiracy theories spread as a result of Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. Several sources have debunked the theories, with the Associated Press releasing a survey that concluded that there were no problems with the drop boxes and that nothing could have affected them to swing the election results.
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— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 28, 2024
Hundreds of ballots are destroyed after fires are set in ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washingtonpic.twitter.com/OGYQnRPYw3
“There is absolutely zero place in our democracy for political violence or interference against our fellow citizens, election workers, or voting infrastructure,” said Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. “Our right to vote needs to be protected under all circumstances. We can’t yield to intimidation, and we must continue to stand up against unpatriotic acts such as this one.”
The targeted arson cases come as the presidential election race picks up speed. Both candidates are continuing their campaigns in battleground states, with Vice President Kamala Harris targeting two stops in Michgan.
Former President Barack Obama and music icon Bruce Springsteen will campaign for her in Philadelphia. Harris previously spent Sunday there campaigning for votes in Black and Puerto Rican neighborhoods.
On Monday, the vice president openly condemned the rally her opponent Trump held in Madison Square Garden.
The MAGA rally was full of rampant racism and sexism as a variety of speakers made derogatory remarks about Palestinians, Latinos, Jewish people and Black people. Vulgar remarks were made about Harris, including calling the vice president “the devil” and “the Antichrist,” as well as making racist remarks about her Black and Indian heritage.
“What he did last night is not a discovery. It is just more of the same and maybe more vivid than usual,” said Harris to reporters. “Donald Trump spends full time trying to have Americans point their finger at each other. He fans the fuels of hate and division and that’s why people are exhausted with him.”
The Trump campaign staff has not distanced themselves from remarks their guest speakers made at the rally.
