### Washington and Oregon Ballot Boxes Set Ablaze in Possible Attack on Democracy

In what officials describe as an assault on the democratic process, nearly 500 damaged ballots were recovered after incendiary devices set fire to ballot boxes in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The fires, now under investigation by the FBI and local authorities, come amid a highly competitive US election season.

On Monday, someone deployed incendiary devices in a ballot drop box in Vancouver, Washington, damaging an unknown number of ballots. A similar device targeted a ballot box in nearby Portland, Oregon, damaging three ballots. Surveillance footage in Portland showed a Volvo approaching the drop box just before a fire was detected, according to Mike Benner, spokesperson for the Portland police bureau.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey confirmed that officials are meticulously sifting through the charred remains of ballots to retrieve voter information, allowing them to issue new ballots where necessary. Although damaged, officials believe sufficient information can be salvaged from the ballots to reach out to affected voters.

A fire at another drop box in Vancouver was extinguished, but it failed to prevent the destruction of hundreds of ballots, highlighted by Kimsey. The rapid response to the Portland incident was credited to an internal fire suppression system and a nearby security guard, which significantly limited the damage.

Both fires have been linked to a previous incident on 8 October when an incendiary device was placed at a different Vancouver ballot drop box. Fortunately, no ballots were harmed in that earlier event.

US Attorney Tessa M Gorman, alongside Greg Austin, Acting Special Agent of the FBI Seattle Field Office, pledged a thorough investigation and vowed to hold those responsible fully accountable. Investigators have gathered enough material to connect all three incidents and discovered devices with the inscription "Free Gaza," though the motive remains unclear.

In response, Clark County officials urge anyone who submitted their ballot at the affected Vancouver drop box after 11am on Saturday to request a replacement. Ballot collection schedules have been revised to more frequent, evening pickups to mitigate the risk of overnight attacks.

King County and other counties in Washington have also announced increased vigilance and more frequent checks of ballot drop boxes leading up to election day to ensure the security and integrity of the voting process.