Authorities in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, announced they had launched investigations after two ballot boxes went up in flames early Monday morning.
The Portland Police Bureau said in a statement that an incendiary device was placed inside a ballot box in the city of Portland and was used to set the box on fire. Police said a suspicious device was found next to a ballot box in Vancouver, about a 20-minute drive from Portland and across the state line.
Police said Portland police officers responded to a report of a burning ballot box around 3:30 a.m. PT. Postbox where voters can vote upcoming electionwas located in southeast Portland near the Multnomah County Elections Division office, CBS affiliate KOIN-TV reported.
When officers arrived, the fire had already been extinguished by security personnel working in the area. Officers found an incendiary device inside the ballot box and determined it had been used to ignite the fire. Police said a bomb squad was called to the scene and removed the device.
Multnomah County elections officials confirmed to CBS News on Monday that most of the ballots in the boxes were undamaged and were being processed on Monday. “We have confirmed that 409 ballots are undamaged in the box and are being processed today. Three ballots were damaged. “All three voters have been contacted and provided with alternative ballots.”
The Portland Fire Investigation Bureau is working with the Police Bureau to investigate this incident.
“This collaboration utilizes the specialist training and skills needed to investigate a fire, including analytical equipment and accelerated detection dogs,” a police statement said.
The Portland Police Bureau released photos of a vehicle believed to be involved in a fire at a polling place. The vehicle is described as a black or dark-colored 2001-2004 Volvo S-60. Investigators said they believe the vehicle is connected to incidents in the Vancouver, Washington, area.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the Portland ballot box fire to contact Detective Meredith Hopper of the Police Department or report information through the Fire Investigation Unit’s dedicated line.
The Vancouver ballot box caught fire shortly after the Portland one. Vancouver police said they were dispatched around 4 a.m. to reports of burning ballot boxes near the Fishers Landing Transit Center.
ABC affiliate KATU-TV released multiple images showing ballots being discarded on the sidewalk and thick smoke billowing from the drop box.
Vancouver police said the fire was extinguished and members of the city’s Metro Explosive Ordnance Squad “safely recovered the device.” The FBI is investigating.
“The FBI, in conjunction with federal, state, and local partners, is actively investigating two incidents that occurred in the early morning hours of Monday, October 28th in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon to identify those responsible. ”, the department announced. Statement to CBS News.
Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey told The Associated Press that the Fishers Landing ballot box had a built-in fire suppression system, but for some reason that system was ineffective. Kimsey told CBS News that hundreds of ballots were affected, but officials said they would not know the exact information until late Tuesday.
Clark County officials said they will increase patrols around ballot drop boxes and have drop box watchers monitor 23 drop boxes in the county 24 hours a day until Election Day.
The county will also assign election workers to pick up ballots at drop boxes more frequently, including every night.
This is at least the second time in October that Vancouver authorities have responded to an incident of this type.
Vancouver police said at the time that the city’s Metro Explosive Ordnance Squad destroyed a suspicious device found near a ballot box around 4 a.m. on Oct. 8. At that time, officers responded to a “report of possible arson” related to smoke seen near ballot drop boxes near several federal buildings. Police said no ballot boxes were damaged and no one was injured.
Nicole Sganga contributed to this report.
