Ballot boxes destroyed in US days before Election Day: What we know so far

With the US presidential election just days away, authorities are investigating a coordinated arson attack that targeted two ballot drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.

Hundreds of ballots were destroyed in Vancouver, while a fire suppression system in Portland limited the damage to only three ballots. The attacks have stirred concerns over election security and fuelled debates around ballot drop box safety amid ongoing conspiracy theories.

What happened?

In the early hours of Monday (local time), authorities reported a fire at a ballot drop box in Portland, Oregon. “Our officers quickly determined that there was an incendiary device that had been attached to the ballot box, and that is what ignited this fire,” said Mike Benner, spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau.

Press Release: UPDATE: PPB Releases Photos of Suspect Vehicle in Ballot Box Incident (Photo)
Link: https://t.co/r71JHZWpKE pic.twitter.com/giSXMINLq6

— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) October 28, 2024

Fortunately, a fire suppressant in the box preserved most of the 409 ballots inside, leaving only three damaged, according to Multnomah County Elections director Tim Scott. Election officials are reaching out to these voters for replacements.

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Just 30 minutes later, a second incident unfolded in Vancouver, Washington, where incendiary devices were found in another ballot box. This time, however, the fire suppression system failed, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of ballots.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s a direct attack on democracy,” said Greg Kimsey, the elected auditor of Clark County, which includes Vancouver. Officials are urging any voter who used the Vancouver drop box after its last scheduled emptying at 11 am on Saturday to contact the county elections office for a replacement ballot.

Are ballot drop boxes rigged?

Ballot drop boxes have come under increasing scrutiny and criticism over recent years, especially from conservative groups and conspiracy theorists who allege, without evidence, that these boxes facilitate voter fraud.

This intensified in 2020 after the release of a now-debunked film, ‘2,000 Mules’, which falsely suggested ballot harvesting operations were stuffing fraudulent ballots into drop boxes.

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The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has recommended that drop boxes be placed in high-traffic, monitored areas, ideally under video surveillance, to prevent tampering.

As security concerns grow, some counties, such as Clark County, are now adjusting their ballot collection schedules to deter future attacks.

Where has the investigation reached?

Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are now investigating these attacks, and surveillance footage from Portland has captured a vehicle, possibly a Volvo, linked to the crime scene.

Portland’s assistant chief Amanda McMillan noted, “We do know that acts like this are targeted and they’re intentional…we’re working to stop that kind of behaviour.” The incidents are also believed to be connected to a prior attempt on October 8 in Vancouver, when a similar incendiary device was placed at a ballot box but failed to cause significant damage.

Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade expressed outrage over the attacks, calling them “an attack on our democracy and completely unacceptable.” She added, “Whatever the motivation behind this incident, there is no justification for any attempt to disenfranchise voters.”

Similarly, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs assured voters of the system’s resilience, stating, “We take the safety of our election workers seriously and will not tolerate threats or acts of violence that seek to undermine the democratic process.”

How did the candidates react?

In the politically charged race for Washington’s third congressional district, candidates Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Joe Kent also responded to the attacks.

Perez, who narrowly won the seat in 2022, advocated for increased police presence at drop boxes and condemned “political violence or interference against our fellow citizens, election workers, or voting infrastructure.”

I am incredibly thankful to the local first responders who quickly arrived on scene, put out the fire, and salvaged the ballots they could.

There is absolutely zero place in our democracy for political violence or interference against our fellow citizens, election workers, or… https://t.co/U2T8LoATm8

— Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (@RepMGP) October 28, 2024

Kent, a former Special Forces member and Trump ally, urged his supporters to stay focused and not to be intimidated, expressing confidence that law enforcement would “get to the bottom of this.”

Stay focused on driving voter turn out & early voting, don’t be deterred from voting by a cowardly act of terrorism.

Vote early, check your voter status & have confidence that our great law enforcement officers in will stop whoever attacked our democratic process. https://t.co/gNmu2bvCeO pic.twitter.com/6uDxmQmWfo

— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) October 28, 2024

Portland Governor Tina Kotek applauded the “rapid response” from law enforcement and stated on social media, “Voter intimidation or any criminal act to undermine the upcoming election is un-American & will not be tolerated.”

Voter intimidation or any criminal act to undermine the upcoming election is un-American & will not be tolerated. I commend the rapid response from @MultCoElections & law enforcement to ensure that OR voters can securely cast their ballots this election. https://t.co/i8DHsGY0VG

— Governor Tina Kotek (@GovTinaKotek) October 28, 2024

Why have ballot drop boxes become so important?

The use of ballot drop boxes, particularly in predominantly vote-by-mail states like Oregon and Washington, has been a common practice for years.

However, the use of these drop boxes surged during the 2020 election amid the COVID-19 pandemic as more voters sought alternatives to in-person voting. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 27 states and Washington, DC, currently allow ballot drop boxes, while six states, all with Republican legislatures, have since banned them.

In Georgia’s Fulton County, for instance, the number of drop boxes was reduced from 38 in 2020 to only 10 this year, following new election laws. Ohio and Iowa, among other states, have also restricted drop box usage, with Ohio now allowing only one drop box per county.

Meanwhile, Republican-controlled states such as Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and South Dakota have implemented outright bans, citing security concerns amplified by conspiracy theories surrounding ballot drop boxes.

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While attacks on ballot boxes are rare, isolated incidents have occurred in the past. In 2020, a drop box was targeted by arson in Los Angeles County, though most ballots remained legible, allowing voters to be contacted and reissued new ballots. Election officials are hoping that the recent attacks will not deter voters or further undermine confidence in the voting process.

Also Read: Why does the US still rely on paper ballots for its elections?

With inputs from agencies