Federal officials have been warning that in recent months, some social media users have been encouraging sabotage of ballot drop boxes. "It's a direct attack on democracy," said one local official.

In the final stretch before Election Day, ballots have been set on fire and damaged in two ballot drop boxes and a Postal Service mailbox in three states. Federal officials have warned that in recent months, some social media users have encouraged sabotage of ballot drop boxes.

Early on Monday morning in Oregon, Portland police responded to a fire they say was started by “an incendiary device” inside a ballot drop box. Oregon’s Multnomah County Elections Division said in a statement that three ballots were damaged. “Fire suppressant inside the ballot box protected virtually all ballots,” the statement read.

Hours later, another drop box was set on fire in nearby Vancouver, Washington, where officials say “hundreds” of ballots were badly damaged when that box’s fire suppression system failed to work.

  • 9point6@lemmy.world
    1321·
    3 days ago

    And people will be going to prison for this, right? Ballot boxes will have definitely been put in view of CCTV, right?

    • Samvega@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      371·
      3 days ago

      I hope the people committing these crimes make themselves, and maybe their car license plate, fully visible so they can be recognised and punished.

    • kbotc@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      2 days ago

      Yep. Guy was arrested this morning and will be facing interstate felony charges.

      I suppose Trump can pardon him if he wins.

    • atzanteol@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      253·
      3 days ago

      Read says it’s important to remember that drop boxes are often under video surveillance and in many places

      So, hopefully. Why the weird energy?

    • finitebanjo@lemmy.world
      5·
      2 days ago

      Not only do they have CCTV but also fire suppressing systems, which is why one of the boxes only lost 3 ballots.