Portland, Ore. (AP) – Authorities have identified a suspect vehicle in connection with incendiary devices that set fires to ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington state. Surveillance images captured a Volvo stopping at a drop box in Portland, Oregon, just before a fire was discovered inside on Monday. The fire damaged three ballots, while a separate fire at a drop box in Vancouver, Washington destroyed hundreds of ballots. Police said the devices were attached to the outside of the boxes.
Officials recovered enough material from the incendiary devices to show that the fires on Monday were connected and that they were also linked to an incident on Oct. 8 in Vancouver. Both states have ballot drop boxes with fire suppression systems, but the system failed to prevent the destruction of ballots in Vancouver.
Various elected officials expressed outrage at the attack on democracy and called for increased security measures at drop boxes. Law enforcement officials are actively investigating the incidents and are coordinating with federal partners. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs denounced acts of violence meant to disrupt voting and encouraged voters to track their ballots online.
Registered voters in both states receive their ballots in the mail and can return them by mail or by placing them in drop boxes. The incidents in Oregon and Washington highlight concerns about the security of ballot drop boxes and the integrity of the voting process. Law enforcement agencies are working to ensure the safety and security of elections in both states.
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