Arson Incidents Destroy Ballots in Washington and Oregon, Prompting FBI Investigation

By Oguine Daniel

In a troubling turn of events just days before Election Day, two ballot boxes in Washington and Oregon were set on fire Monday, potentially affecting hundreds of mail-in votes. The incidents, which authorities believe are connected, have prompted an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The Vancouver Police Department reported responding to an arson at a ballot box at 4 a.m., discovering smoke emanating from the box alongside a “suspicious object.” Meanwhile, in Portland, police responded to a fire in the Buckman neighborhood around 3:30 a.m., where security personnel had already extinguished the blaze. An “incendiary device” was found at the scene, leading officers to classify the incident as arson.

Clark County auditor Greg Kimsey revealed that a significant number of ballots were destroyed in the Vancouver fire, estimating the loss at “certainly hundreds.” He indicated that the fire suppression system in the ballot box failed to operate correctly. The last pick-up from the box occurred at 11 a.m. Saturday. Voters concerned about their ballots can request new ones via the county’s voting website. Kimsey also announced increased security measures around drop boxes.

In contrast, only three ballots were reported lost in the Portland incident, with Multnomah County election official Tim Scott stating that affected voters would be contacted.

Vancouver police noted that Monday’s arson bore similarities to a previous incident on October 8, occurring just before ballots were mailed. The Vancouver ballot box is situated in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, where Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is fighting to retain her seat after a narrow victory in 2022 against Republican Joe Kent.

Both candidates condemned the arsons, with Gluesenkamp Perez stating, “Southwest Washington cannot risk a single vote being lost to arson and political violence.” Kent echoed this sentiment, urging voters to remain focused and undeterred by what he called a “cowardly act of terrorism.”

The FBI has announced its coordination with federal, state, and local partners to investigate these incidents, though it has not confirmed whether they will be treated as domestic terrorism cases.