Topline
Hundreds of election tallies were ruined early Monday earlymorning after a tally box captured fire in the Washington state city of Vancouver, Clark County Elections Auditor Greg Kimsey verified to Forbes—and it was the 2nd of 2 occurrences of its kind in the location that authorities stated lateron Monday might be associated.
Voters cast their tallies at authorities tally boxes on November 8, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.
Key Facts
A tally box at a public transit center was set on fire after somebody stuck an incendiary gadget to the outside of the box that triggered the flames, according to the regional Fox station, though Kimsey stated he might not remark on what began the fire.
Ballots had not been chosen up from the box consideringthat Saturday earlymorning, and Kimsey stated “hundreds” were ruined.
Anyone who dropped their tally in the box at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center after 11 a.m. Saturday can contact Clark County Elections for a replacement.Kimsey stated his workplace will be customizing its tally retrieval schedule in action to the occurrence.
Another tally box in southeast Portland, Oregon—just miles from Vancouver, Washington—was harmed around 3: 30 a.m. Monday, according to regional news outlets, however there was no details yet offered as to how numerous, if any, tallies were harmed.
Police stated Monday afternoon an similar Volvo was seen at both scenes and comparable “incendiary gadgets”—which Portland authorities think was connected to the side of the box—were utilized in both the Portland and Vancouver attacks, NBC News reported.
The FBI is examining the 2 events along with the 2 regional cops departments.
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Crucial Quote
“We do understand acts like this are targeted … and we’re worried about that deliberate act attempting to effect the election procedure. We’re committed to stopping this kind of habits,” Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan stated in a declaration Monday afternoon.
Tangent
These are not the veryfirst tally box fires to be reported this election season. A male was apprehended in Phoenix on Thursday after apparently setting fire to a United States Postal Service mailbox that had numerous early ballot tallies inside, though authorities stated his intentions were not political.
Key Background
There is a tight congressional race in the Washington state district in which the tally box fire was reported Monday. In Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, Republican prospect Joe Kent is running to unseat Democratic incumbent Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a rematch of Kent and Gluesenkamp Perez’s tight 2022 race. On Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wentto the district to project for Kent, and stated “My existence here reveals you how crucial this district is to all of America.”
Further Reading
KATUBurning tallies pulled from inside smokingcigarettes Vancouver tally box; hundreds of tallies lost
https://www.kptv.comHundreds of tallies harmed after drop box set on fire in Vancouver, authorities stateThe ColumbianSpeaker Mike Johnson stumps for Joe Kent in Clark County for 2nd timeNBC NewsBallot drop boxes set on fire in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash.