Ballot Drop Box Arsons Investigated in Northwest

In the lead-up to Election Day, ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington have been targeted by arson, with incendiary devices igniting fires that damaged hundreds of ballots. The first incident occurred in Portland, Oregon, where only three ballots were affected due to the effective fire suppression system, while another fire in Vancouver resulted in significant damage to an undetermined number of ballots. Local officials, including Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, have condemned the actions, labeling them as acts of terror aimed at undermining democracy. The FBI is investigating the incidents, which authorities believe may be connected. Election officials are urging voters who used these drop boxes recently to verify their ballot status and are prepared to issue replacements where necessary. Both Oregon and Washington's election authorities emphasized the importance of maintaining secure voting processes and the need to combat voter intimidation.