Two Ballot Drop Boxes Set on Fire, Destroying Hundreds of 2024 Election Ballots

In a disturbing development for election security, two ballot drop boxes in Washington and Oregon were set on fire early Monday morning, likely destroying hundreds of ballots in the tightly contested 2024 election. The incidents, which occurred just hours apart, are under investigation by local law enforcement and the FBI, raising concerns about election integrity in key swing areas.

The first fire was reported around 4:00 a.m. at the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center in Vancouver, Washington, located 15 miles north of Portland, Oregon. Firefighters and police arrived on the scene to find smoke pouring out of the ballot drop box. Video footage from KATU ABC 2 showed authorities using crowbars to pry open the box and extinguish the flames, which had reduced most ballots inside to ash. Police later found a suspicious device next to the drop box, and the area was cleared by the Metro Explosive Disposal Unit (MEDU).

• Vancouver box likely lost hundreds of ballots: Vancouver authorities believe nearly all ballots inside the box were destroyed, except for a few charred remnants.

• Incendiary device discovered: A suspicious device was located near the Vancouver box, suggesting a coordinated attack.

• FBI steps in: The FBI has taken over the investigation, with local authorities advising voters to contact the Election Auditor’s Office if they dropped ballots at the site after 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Only hours earlier, across the state line in Portland, Oregon, police responded to a similar fire at a ballot drop box in the southeast part of the city. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any ballots were recovered, though they reported that an incendiary device was found at the scene.

The attacks occurred in areas with high political stakes. Clark County, Washington where the Vancouver drop box was located plays a crucial role in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District race between incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican challenger Joe Kent. The district is a swing region, where recent presidential elections saw slim Democratic wins, with both Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton narrowly defeating Donald Trump in 2020 and 2016, respectively.

The FBI’s involvement signals the seriousness of these incidents, which represent a direct threat to election security. With arson and explosive devices now seemingly part of the strategy to interfere with the voting process, election officials and law enforcement are under pressure to bolster security around remaining ballot boxes and ensure voters can safely cast their ballots.

As these investigations continue, the stakes in competitive districts like Clark County remain high, and authorities are working to reassure the public. This level of interference not only endangers ballots but risks shaking voter confidence in the electoral process itself.

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