WASHINGTON — Authorities have uncovered incendiary devices at the sites of ballot drop box fires that occurred in Portland, Oregon, and nearby Vancouver, Washington, this week. These devices were marked with the phrase “Free Gaza,” as reported by a law enforcement official.
A separate device found at another drop box in Vancouver earlier this month also featured the messages “Free Palestine” along with “Free Gaza.” The official chose to remain anonymous due to the ongoing investigation, which has sparked urgent inquiries into both the identity of the individual behind these incidents and their motives. Investigators are focused on whether the individual holds genuine pro-Palestinian sentiments or if the messages were a ploy to foster confusion.
Surveillance footage shows a Volvo arriving at a drop box in Portland just moments before a security officer discovered a fire inside on Monday. Fortunately, a fire suppression system within the box and the swift action of a nearby security guard resulted in the fire being extinguished quickly. Only three ballots were reported as damaged from this incident.
Conversely, the ballot drop box in Vancouver suffered significant destruction. Its fire suppression system failed to operate effectively, leading to hundreds of ballots being burned, according to Greg Kimsey, the elected auditor for Clark County, Washington, where Vancouver is located. As of Tuesday, the precise number of ballots destroyed is still unclear, but approximately 475 damaged ballots have been retrieved from the box.
Election officials planned to examine the damaged ballots for voter information with the intention of issuing replacement ballots to those affected. Kimsey urged any voters who submitted their ballots at the transit center box between 11 a.m. on Saturday and early Monday to reach out to his office for a replacement.
During a news conference held in Portland on Monday, authorities confirmed that the materials recovered from the incendiary devices were enough to establish a link between the two recent fires and connect them to an incendiary device found on October 8 at yet another drop box in Vancouver, where no ballots were harmed.
Voters in Washington State are encouraged to verify the status of their ballots by visiting www.votewa.gov to ensure their returns are tracked appropriately. If a ballot that was submitted does not appear as “received,” voters have the option to print a replacement ballot or visit their local election office for further assistance, according to the state’s secretary of state’s office.