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2024-11-05 04:29:34 UTC
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Permalinkmorning, in incidents police say are likely connected and related to
another attempted attack earlier this month.
Hundreds of ballots were destroyed in one of the early morning fires, at a
ballot box at a Vancouver transit center. The other, outside Multnomah
County election offices in Portland, was quickly extinguished and resulted
in partial damage to just three ballots.
Related: Ballot boxes still safe for voting after arson attacks in
Portland and Vancouver
Portland police said Monday they were looking for a dark Volvo at the
scene of the Portland fire. They said similarities between the two Monday
fires and a third attempt to set fire to a Vancouver ballot box on Oct.
8 included similar incendiary devices that, once attached to the ballot
box, could heat the ballots inside until they caught fire.
There was enough evidence collected at all three scenes that lead us to
believe that all three incidents are connected, said Mike Benner, a
spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau.
In reaction to the spate of attacks, law enforcement in Vancouver and
Portland said they would step up patrols around ballot boxes. In Clark
County, elections officials said they would pick up ballots more often to
limit how many could be damaged in the future.
We have developed a plan to ensure that we are keeping an eye on the
boxes as much as possible with increased patrols, Troy Price, Vancouvers
interim police chief, told reporters in a news conference.
Around 3:30 a.m. Monday, Portland officers responded to a fire in a ballot
drop box in the 1000 block of Southeast Morrison Street, outside the
Multnomah County elections office.
By the time they arrived, security guards on the premises had already
extinguished a fire, Benner said. The ballot box, like all in Multnomah
County, was also equipped with fire suppression canisters that deployed in
response to a spike in temperature.
As a result, just a handful of ballots were damaged, Scott said. Elections
officials will contact the voters impacted to send them replacements.
Related: What you need to know about voting in Oregon and Southwest
Washingon
Ive been with Multnomah County elections for 16 years. Ive been in
elections for 22 years, Scott told reporters. This is the first time any
incident has occurred as far as Im aware.
The nearby Elections Division building was not affected, and the site
remained open for normal operations Monday, with some people coming in to
inquire about the ballot box incident. Still, Scott said anyone who
dropped their ballot into the box on Southeast Belmont Street between 3:30
p.m. Saturday and 3 a.m. Monday should call 503-988-6826 if they have any
concerns.
Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade issued a statement
condemning the act Monday morning.
Make no mistake, an attack on a ballot box is an attack on our democracy
and completely unacceptable, she said. Whatever the motivation behind
this incident, there is no justification for any attempt to disenfranchise
voters.
Damage was more extensive at a ballot drop site in Vancouver. Officials
say that a box at Fishers Landing Transit Center was set ablaze around 4
a.m., destroying hundreds of ballots. A video from KATU-TV, which was live
at the scene, went viral on social media Monday.
As in Multnomah County, the box was equipped with a fire suppression
system, said Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey. Doesnt appear it worked
very well, he said.
The Washington fire occurred in the heart of one of the most closely
watched congressional districts in the country.
U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the Democratic incumbent locked in a
close race with Republican Joe Kent, issued a statement saying there was
absolutely zero place in our democracy for political violence or
interference against our fellow citizens, election workers, or voting
infrastructure. Gluesenkamp Perez said she is requesting law enforcement
presence overnight at all ballot drop boxes in Clark County through
Election Day.
Anyone who dropped off a ballot at the Fishers Landing drop box, at 3510
SE 164th Ave., between 11 a.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Monday, should contact
the Clark County Elections Office for a replacement ballot, said Kimsey.
The sooner they contact us, the better he said.
Kimsey, now in his 26th year as an elections official, said he has not
seen attacks on ballot boxes in previous elections. But this year has
already brought two.
On Oct. 8, what Kimsey called a suspicious device caused damage to the
outside of a different drop box within the county. In that instance, no
ballots were damaged.
Still Kimsey said voters worried about their ballots could bring them
directly to his Vancouver office, at 1408 Franklin Street. He also said
that ballots deposited by 5:30 p.m. will be picked up the same day,
reducing the chance they could be vandalized.
In a press release issued Monday evening, Kimsey confirmed the countys
plans to enhance security around ballot boxes.
In addition to an increased law enforcement presence, Clark County
Elections Office employees will serve as ballot box observers 24 hours a
day, seven days a week at each of the 22 drop boxes throughout the
county, said Kimsey. Employees will not confront anyone. They are there
to observe and report any suspicious activities to the proper
authorities.
Police said Monday afternoon they were seeking more information on a
vehicle they believe is connected to all three attacks a dark-colored
Volvo S60 from model year 2001-2004. The car did not have a front license
plate in surveillance footage, and police said they could not read its
rear plate.
We dont know the motive behind these acts, PPB Assistant Chief Amanda
McMillan said in a statement. We do know acts like this are targeted and
theyre intentional and were concerned about that intentional act trying
to impact the election process.
According to Benner, police could pursue charges that include
manufacturing a destructive device, unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree
criminal mischief, reckless burning and obstructing governmental
administration in the case.
The FBI confirmed in a statement Monday morning that it is investigating
the two fires set Monday. Meanwhile, the incidents were broadly condemned
by Oregon and Washington officials.
Voter intimidation of any criminal act to undermine the upcoming election
is un-American and will not be tolerated, Gov. Tina Kotek said in a
statement. I commend the rapid response from Multnomah County Elections
and law enforcement to ensure that Oregon voters can securely cast their
ballots.
Editors note: Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Stay informed with OPB on
the presidential race, key congressional battles and other local contests
and ballot measures in Oregon and Southwest Washington at
opb.org/elections.
https://www.opb.org/article/2024/10/28/ballot-box-burned-portland-
vancouver/