Hundreds of ballots possibly burned after Vancouver ballot box arson: FBI investigating

VANCOUVER, Wash. — A Vancouver ballot box was burned in an arson Monday morning, authorities report – with hundreds of ballots possibly damaged in the fire.

Investigators believe the incident is connected to two other arson incidents in Portland and SW Washington

KATU was on the scene at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center in Vancouver shortly after 4 a.m., where heavy smoke was seen coming from inside a drop-off ballot box.

Our photographer Evan Bell captured grey smoke steadily billowing out of the Park and Ride ballot box at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center near Southeast 162nd Avenue.

Multiple police units were in the area, and the ballot box was cordoned off by police tape as it continued to smoke.

Around 6 a.m., KATU captured footage of first responders releasing a pile of actively burning ballots onto the ground, which continued to smolder and smoke heavily even after the flames were put out.

The Clark County elections auditor told us that the last ballot pickup at that location was 11 a.m. Saturday.

Hundreds of ballots were inside at the time of the burning, and KATU was told there were likely only a few that could be saved.

Voters who dropped off ballots at that location after 11 a.m. Saturday need to contact the Election Auditor’s Office IMMEDIATELY for a new ballot.

A link to the Clark County Elections page, with contact information for the Auditor’s Office, can be found HERE.

Washington voters can track the status of their ballots HERE.

Vancouver Police released the following statement at 9 a.m.:

This morning at about 4:00 a.m., Vancouver Police responded to an arson at a ballot box located at 3510 SE 164th Ave. It was reported that the ballot box was smoking and on fire. Officers arrived and located a suspicious device next to the box. The ballot box was smoking and was on fire. Members of the Metro Explosive Disposal Unit (MEDU) arrived and safely collected the device, and the fire was extinguished. Detectives from the Vancouver Police Arson team and the Vancouver Fire Marshals also responded.

The FBI is continuing the investigation of this incident.

The VPD added that the investigation is being fully handed over to the FBI, and it will not be providing any more updates.

The FBI gave this statement at 11 a.m. regarding the arson:

The FBI is coordinating with federal, state and local partners to actively investigate the two incidents in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, in the early morning hours of Monday, October 28th to determine who is responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the nearest FBI office, provide information through tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324

Just a few hours earlier, Portland police had responded to an arson at a SE Portland ballot box.

READ MORE:Incendiary device set off inside SE Portland ballot box, causing fire

Investigators say that an incendiary device was set off inside the box, causing a fire. The fire was extinguished, and investigators later stated only 3 ballots had been damaged.

In a noon press release, police stated they believed the Portland and Vancouver arson incidents Monday morning were connected.

A press officer additionally reported that the Vancouver ballot box had a fire suppression system that failed. He also emphasized that the device was NOT a bomb.

Investigators linked the arsons to an incident on October 8, where a Vancouver ballot box was externally scorched by an incendiary device.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:Vancouver ballot drop box visibly scorched after police remove ‘suspicious device’

The PPB provided a photo of a suspect vehicle believed to be involved with the arsons.

When caught, police say the arsonist will be facing charges of:

• Possession of a destructive device
• Manufacture of a destructive device
• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Criminal mischief in the 1st degree
• Reckless burning
• Obstructing governmental or judicial administration
• Illegal acts related to voting machines or vote tally systems.

This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

Editor’s note: The Clark County Auditor’s Office originally told KATU the last ballot pick-up had been 8 a.m. Sunday. They later corrected this to 11 a.m. Saturday.