Hundreds of ballots damaged after drop boxes set on fire, officials say
VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV/Gray News) - Hundreds of voting ballots were damaged in Portland, Oregon, after a drop box was set on fire, according to officials.
The fire was set at the C-TRAN Park & Ride at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center.
Authorities said that someone allegedly stuck a device to the outside of the box which started the fire, KPTV reported.
Election officials said hundreds of ballots were burned.
“This is a democracy. This is the most undemocratic thing that anyone could possibly do,” Horace Tso said.
Tso dropped his ballot into the box on Sunday, which means it was likely destroyed in the fire.
“People in this country are going crazy about the election and I’m really upset about it,” Tso added.
Anyone who dropped off a ballot in the box after 11 a.m. on Saturday should contact the Clark County Elections Office.
This is the second ballot box fire that police have responded to in the Portland metro area.
At about 3:30 a.m., police responded to a fire at a ballot box near the Multnomah County Elections Office.
During a press conference on Monday afternoon, police said they believe the two incidents are connected. They also believe an incident that happened on Oct. 8 in Vancouver, Washington, is also connected.
The FBI has joined to assist in the investigations.
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