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Ballot drop box fires in Oregon and Washington are likely connected, officials say . By America-Today OCT,29 2024
Ballot drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and neighboring Vancouver, Washington, were set on fire Monday morning in what authorities believe are connected incidents about a week out from Election Day. An identical Volvo was spotted at both scenes, and the use of an "incendiary device" in Portland was "similar in nature" to what occurred in Vancouver, the cities' police departments said. Portland police described the act as targeted and intentional.
Three ballots were damaged in Portland, while potentially ＾hundreds￣ were affected in Vancouver, local officials said. The Portland Police Bureau said an "incendiary device" was placed inside a sidewalk ballot box in the Central City district. By the time officers responded to reports about 3:30 a.m., security personnel in the area had extinguished the flames. "Officers determined an incendiary device was placed inside the ballot box and used to ignite the fire," Portland police said in a statement, adding that the bureau's Explosive Disposal Unit removed the mechanism. Portland police were continuing to investigate. The Multnomah County Sheriff¨s Office said it would step up patrols around ballot drop boxes in the county.
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