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Ballot drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, were targeted in suspicious fires early Monday morning, according to local authorities, occurring just a little over a week before Election Day. The incidents resulted in damage to several ballots, with Portland reporting three damaged ballots and Vancouver facing potential damage to hundreds.

In Portland's Central City district, the Portland Police Bureau reported that an incendiary device was placed inside a sidewalk ballot box. Officers responded around 3:30 a.m. after nearby security personnel extinguished the flames. The Explosive Disposal Unit was called to remove the hazardous device, and investigations are ongoing. A statement from the Multnomah County election office reassured voters that a fire suppressant inside the ballot box protected nearly all ballots, ensuring that affected votes would be counted.

Shortly after the Portland incident, around 4 a.m., a second fire was reported in Vancouver, Washington. Flames and smoke were visible from a ballot box near the Fisher's Landing Transit Depot. Vancouver police discovered a suspicious device next to the ballot box, which was collected by the Metro Explosive Disposal Unit after the fire was extinguished. The FBI is investigating and has yet to provide additional details.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey noted that potentially hundreds of ballots could have been damaged in the Vancouver incident. He advised voters who had submitted their ballots after 11 a.m. on Saturday to check their ballot status with the office. Shasti Conrad, chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, expressed confidence that authorities would find and hold those responsible accountable.

Though it remains unclear if the Portland and Vancouver incidents are connected, the timing has heightened concerns among election officials nationwide. Security measures have been ramped up, with some localities deploying additional law enforcement, drones, and even bulletproof vests to safeguard the electoral process.

Earlier in October, the Vancouver bomb squad responded to another report of a suspicious device near a downtown ballot box, which was safely removed without compromising the ballot box. In light of recent events, Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez has requested overnight law enforcement presence at all ballot drop boxes in Clark County through Election Day to prevent further disruptions.

Calls for vigilance and resilience have been echoed by various public figures. A post on X from Kent emphasized the importance of continued voter turnout, urging the public not to be deterred by what he termed a cowardly act of terrorism.

This recent surge of disturbances is not confined to the Pacific Northwest. Last week in Phoenix, several ballots were damaged when a U.S. Postal Service mailbox was set on fire. The police have since arrested a suspect, who admitted to committing arson but denied any political motivations.