Fires in drop boxes have destroyed hundreds of ballots in Washington and damaged three in Oregon.

The recent incidents of fires in ballot drop boxes in Washington and Oregon, which have reportedly destroyed hundreds of ballots, underscore the vulnerabilities inherent in mail-in voting systems. As observed by Stewart et al. (2020), various state regulations regarding mail-in ballots can lead to significant rates of lost votes. The destruction caused by these fires not only raises concerns about the integrity of the election process but also highlights a critical point regarding the reliability of ballot collection methods. With approximately 1.4 million mail-in ballots lost during the 2016 presidential election (Stewart et al., 2020), it is essential to consider how external factors, such as these fires, can exacerbate an already precarious situation.

Early on Monday morning in Oregon, Portland police responded to a fire they say was started by "an incendiary device" inside a ballot drop box. Oregon's Multnomah County Elections Division said in a statement that three ballots were damaged. "Fire suppressant inside the ballot box protected virtually all ballots," the statement read.

The ballot box in Vancouver also had a fire suppression system inside, but that failed to prevent hundreds of ballots from burning, said Greg Kimsey, the longtime elected auditor in Clark County, Washington, which includes Vancouver. He urged voters who dropped their ballots in the transit center box after 11 a.m. Saturday to contact his office for a replacement ballot.

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.

Clark County Auditor confirmed that the drop box at the C-Tran Transit Center has been replaced.

Moreover, these incidents may disproportionately affect states that rely heavily on mail-in voting, leading to increased scrutiny and potential disenfranchisement of voters. The implications extend beyond mere logistical failures; they challenge the foundational principles of democratic participation and electoral integrity. Ensuring secure and reliable mechanisms for collecting votes is paramount in maintaining public confidence in electoral outcomes. As states continue to navigate the complexities of expanding mail-in voting options, it is imperative that they address these vulnerabilities proactively.

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Sarah H

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