Authorities Affirm Arson Attacks on Ballot Boxes in Oregon and Washington Are Connected
Authorities Affirm Arson Attacks on Ballot Boxes in Oregon and Washington Are Connected
As we approach the last week of this highly unusual and aggressive presidential election, a series of arson attacks at early voting spots across the Pacific Northwest has law enforcement in a frenzy to find the culprit. This situation is just another consequence of what election safety experts refer to as an elevated "threat environment," essentially meaning that citizens are growing increasingly unstable and the situation is becoming chaotic.
On Monday morning, someone affixed an "explosive device" to a ballot dropbox in Portland, Oregon, and then drove away. Shortly after 3:30 AM, Portland police responded to reports of a blaze in the area and discovered the dropbox engulfed in flames. Just under an hour later, another similar incident occurred in Vancouver, Washington, where police found another dropbox ablaze. Once again, a "suspicious device" was found nearby.
Authorities also suspect these occurrences are connected to a previous arson incident, which occurred in Vancouver approximately three weeks ago on October 8. Again, police were called to put out a fire at a ballot dropbox, and a nearby homeless shelter had to be evacuated due to safety concerns.
KGW reports that the fires in Vancouver destroyed "hundreds" of ballots, while the Portland fire only destroyed three. The FBI is now collaborating with local police to investigate the three incidents.
In a press release, Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan stated, "We don't know the motive behind these actions. What we do know is that they are deliberate and targeted, and we are concerned about their intent to disrupt the election process. We are committed to stopping this type of behavior."
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs also released a statement, saying, "We prioritize the safety of our election workers and will not tolerate any threats or acts of violence that threaten the democratic process. I strongly condemn any acts of terror that aim to disrupt fair and legal elections in Washington state. Despite this incident, I have complete faith in our county elections officials' ability to maintain the integrity of elections for all voters."
Luckily, authorities seem to have obtained footage of the suspected vehicle involved in the arson attacks. A still from the security footage of the "suspect vehicle" was made public on Monday. The car is described as being a "dark-colored 2001-2004 Volvo S-60." The vehicle appears to lack a front license plate, but the back plate is illegible.
Voters in Vancouver who believe their ballot may have been damaged are encouraged to contact the city's elections division (to do so, call 564-397-2345 or email email protected). Portland residents who are concerned they may have been affected can contact 503-988-6826. Additionally, many governments allow voters to track the status of their vote. In Washington, voters can visit votewa.gov to check the return status of their ballot. KGW reports that, if a returned ballot is not marked as "received," voters can request a replacement ballot or visit the elections department for a replacement.
In the face of these disturbing events, tech-savvy individuals are using their expertise to analyze the security footage and enhance the visibility of the suspect vehicle's license plate. The future of technology may hold the key to identifying and bringing the perpetrator of these attacks to justice.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement agencies are also exploring the use of advanced technology to strengthen security measures at voting spots, aiming to safeguard the technology used in elections and protect the sanctity of the voting process in the tech-driven future.