Burning Ballots Discovered Inside Smoking Ballot Box in Vancouver, Hundreds of Ballots Potentially Lost

According to Associated Press. Article by Blake Sterling.

From the Associated Press: VANCOUVER, Wash. – Early Monday morning, smoke was seen pouring from a ballot drop-off box at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center in Vancouver, Washington, leading to the discovery of burned ballots.

It's been reported that KATU was on the scene around 6 a.m. near the Park and Ride ballot box on Southeast 162nd Avenue, where heavy smoke steadily billowed from the container. Police had cordoned off the area with tape, and several police units were present.

Around 6:30 a.m., first responders were seen removing a pile of ballots from the box. The ballots continued to smolder even after firefighters extinguished the flames. The Clark County elections auditor reported that hundreds of ballots were inside the box at the time of the incident. While a few ballots may have been salvaged, most are believed to be lost.

Voters who deposited ballots at the Fisher’s Landing box after 11 a.m. Saturday are urged to contact the Clark County Election Auditor’s Office for a replacement ballot.

Police Response and Investigation

At 9 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department issued a statement detailing their response to the incident. Police responded to a report of a fire at a ballot box around 4 a.m. Upon arrival, they found smoke coming from the box and located a suspicious device nearby. The Metro Explosive Disposal Unit (MEDU) was called in to safely remove the device, and the fire was put out. Vancouver Police arson detectives and the Vancouver Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating, with support from the FBI.

Just hours before this incident, an arson attack was reported at a ballot drop-off location in Southeast Portland. Investigators report that an incendiary device had been ignited inside the box, causing a fire. Portland police are actively investigating, though details about the condition of ballots in that location have not yet been released.