Election 'Arson Attack': Probe Launched After Fires Set at Ballot Boxes in Oregon and Washington Destroy Hundreds of Votes

Surveillance footage showed a Volvo stopping at a drop box in Portland just before security personnel found a fire inside.

During a news conference, Portland Police Bureau spokesman Mike Benner said the incident resulted in damage to three voter ballots.

At the same time, dark grey smoke was seen coming out of a ballot box at Fisher's Landing Transit Center in Vancouver around 6 am.

Multiple police units descended on the area and cordoned off the box as it continued to smoke.

About half an hour later, first responders were seen removing several burning ballots, which continued to smolder and smoke even after the fire was extinguished.

Clark County's elections auditor stated that the box contained hundreds of ballots at the time, following the last collection at 8 am on Sunday.

KATU reported that only a few ballots were recovered, and the auditor urged anyone who dropped off a ballot at that location to contact the Election Auditor's Office immediately to request a replacement.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said: "We're going to change our ballot retrieval process so that ballots are picked up in the evening, leaving fewer in drop boxes overnight."

Washington's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also received a report of a suspicious device found near a ballot drop-off earlier this month, but no ballots were damaged.

The fires occurred shortly after Portland police responded to another fire at a ballot box, where investigators suspect an incendiary device was involved.

According to reports, the fire was reported around 3:30 am but was put out by security before firefighters arrived.

The PPD is still investigating the case, and officials have yet to provide an update on the status of the ballots inside.