Incendiary devices found at the recent ballot drop box fires in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, had “Free Gaza” messages, according to a law enforcement official.
What Happened in the Ballot Box Fires?
Fires erupted early Monday morning, one in a ballot box in Portland, where a fire suppression system protected most of the ballots, and another in Vancouver, where hundreds of ballots were destroyed after a similar device was used but the suppression system failed.
The attacks come at a time of heightened tensions ahead of the 2024 presidential election on November 5 in which Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, will face off against former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee.
What Does Law Enforcement Say?
While the devices used are still being investigated, authorities are trying to identify the person responsible and the motive for the suspected arson attacks.
However, according to a law enforcement official who spoke under the condition of anonymity, a third device placed at a different drop box in Vancouver earlier this month also carried the words “Free Palestine” in addition to “Free Gaza.”
Jenny Kane/AP
Authorities are trying to figure out whether the person who left the devices actually had pro-Palestinian views or used the message to try to create confusion, according to the official.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian attack on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest airstrikes against Gaza. As of Wednesday, at least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, the Associated Press reported, per the Israeli government. More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, per the Gaza Health Ministry, according to the outlet.
The U.S. role in supporting Israel in its war against Hamas has become a major issue during this year’s presidential election, and the yearlong conflict has led to continuous calls for a ceasefire as protests across the country continue.
What We Know About the Fires
A surveillance image captured a Volvo approaching a Portland drop box moments before a fire was discovered inside, according to Portland Police Bureau spokesman Mike Benner.
Authorities said at a news conference in Portland on Monday that enough material from the incendiary devices was recovered to show that the two fires were connected—and that they were connected to an October 8 incendiary device at a different ballot drop box in Vancouver. No ballots were damaged in that incident.
While Portland’s drop box suppression system managed to contain the blaze damaging just three of the ballots inside, Vancouver’s drop box resulted in the destruction of about 475 ballots, according to Greg Kimsey, Clark County’s longtime auditor.
Ballot recovery efforts are underway on Wednesday with election staff sorting damaged ballots to identify voters in the hopes that those voters can be given replacement ballots. Kimsey urged voters who dropped their ballots in the transit center box between 11 a.m. local time Saturday and early Monday to contact his office for a replacement ballot.
Meanwhile, local authorities urge Washington voters to check their ballot status on the state’s official portal to track their return status. If a returned ballot is not marked as “received,” voters can print a replacement ballot or visit their local elections department for a replacement, the secretary of state’s office said.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
