In a pair of alarming and possibly connected attacks, ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington were set ablaze early Monday, damaging hundreds of ballots and prompting a thorough investigation by authorities.

The twin ballot box fires were the latest in a series of similar incidents in the area, showing a troubling trend of arson targeting voting infrastructure, as the Washington Examiner reports.

The first incident was reported in Portland, Oregon, around 3:30 a.m. Police were alerted to the presence of an incendiary device that had been ignited at a ballot drop box.

Fortunately, security personnel managed to extinguish the fire by the time police arrived. Multnomah County Elections Division swiftly replaced the damaged box to ensure voters could continue to cast their ballots uninterrupted.

Vancouver Incident Adds to Concerns

Just a few hours later, a similar scene unfolded in Vancouver, Washington. At approximately 6:30 a.m., officials responded to a report of a smoking ballot drop box located at the Park and Ride at Fisher's Landing Transit Center. Hundreds of ballots inside were incinerated, and only a few were expected to be intact enough for salvage.

The last collection of ballots from this site occurred at 8 a.m. on the previous day, indicating that the damaged votes were deposited after this time.

Election officials are advising voters who submitted their ballots after the last pickup to contact the Election Auditor’s Office for guidance on obtaining a replacement ballot.

These incidents represent the third occurrence of such attacks within the month, raising alarms about voter intimidation and potential disruption to the electoral process. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has noted that the attacks appear deliberate, describing them as targeted and intentional acts.

Security Concerns Amid Tight Election

The timing of these attacks is particularly concerning in the context of an ongoing House election in Vancouver. The destroyed ballots are part of the vote for the closely contested race where Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is fighting to retain her seat against Republican challenger Joe Kent.

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez has been vocal in condemning these violent acts. She emphasized that the threat to the democratic process posed by these incidents is significant, stating, "Southwest Washington cannot risk a single vote being lost to arson and political violence."

She further encouraged voters to resist intimidation, stating the importance of continuing to counter these "unpatriotic acts."

Authorities Seek Answers, Motives

Law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing leads to ascertain the purpose behind these attacks. Officials from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office admitted that the motives are still unclear but acknowledged that there appears to be a sequence of such incidents.

In an event earlier this month, Vancouver police discovered a device near another ballot box in what suggested a potentially premeditated attempt to disrupt the voting process. This finding points to a pattern of deliberate attempts to sabotage elections in the region.

Tim Scott, from the Multnomah County Elections Division, remarked on the unprecedented nature of these events, expressing his surprise given his extensive experience in election supervision. "I've been with Multnomah County Elections for 16 years. I’ve been in elections for 22 years. This is the first time any incident has occurred," he commented.

FBI, Local Authorities Intensify Probe

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined local police to probe this series of attacks, classifying them as arson. As these incidents are affecting fundamental democratic practices, the involvement of federal authorities underscores the seriousness of the situation.

Law enforcement officials are working to reassure the public of their commitment to safeguarding the electoral process. However, they caution citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities observed near voting facilities.

As authorities continue their investigations, the public and officials alike are hoping for swift resolutions to ensure secure and reliable elections in the region.

These attacks highlight the vulnerabilities of the voting system and the need for enhanced protective measures during election periods.