Incendiary devices at Oregon, Washington ballot boxes emblazoned with 'Free Gaza' messages

Incendiary devices located at two ballot boxes in Washington and Oregon on Monday had the words “Free Gaza” emblazoned on them, according to investigators. The New York Times reported that the words “Free Gaza” were found on the two devices found Monday, one in Portland, Oregon, and another in Vancouver, Washington.

Hundreds of ballots were burned in the ballot box in Vancouver. The outlet also revealed that a similar device was found at a third ballot box this month in Vancouver that said “Free Palestine” on it. Those who placed their ballot in the Vancouver box after 11 am on Saturday have been urged to contact the Election Auditor’s Office as soon as possible for a new ballot as it's likely their ballots were destroyed.

The devices, which ignited a short time apart from each other, were sent to the terrorist explosive device analytical center in Huntsville, Alabama. The Department of Homeland Security previously warned in an intelligence report about the threat of “incendiary and explosive materials” being dropped into ballot boxes.

Law enforcement said at a press conference that the three incidents are linked. They released surveillance images of a suspect vehicle, a dark Volvo from the early 2000s, and asked for the public’s help in identifying the driver. The FBI is assisting with the interstate investigation.

According to election officials, the Portland ballot box’s automatic fire suppressant system protected most of the ballots but 3 were damaged. The fire suppressant system in the Vancouver box didn’t contain the fire and hundreds of ballots were destroyed.

One of the close races that could be affected is the congressional race in southwest Washington for the 3rd District between Republican challenger Joe Kent and Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, which is considered one of the country’s most competitive contests. Both states vote almost entirely by mail and ballot drop box.

Officials in Clark County said Monday that 22 drop boxes in the area would have observers watching them 24 hours a day and that law enforcement agencies would be increasing patrols around drop boxes.

According to The Times, investigators are attempting to ascertain if the perpetrator was an anti-Israel activist or someone attempting to use the cause for their own purposes. 

The fires were not the only challenge vote-by-mail faced in the area. Also on Monday, Lane County, Oregon election officials informed the public not to use two United States Postal Service (USPS) mailboxes in Marcola after it was discovered that a key used to open the mailboxes was stolen during a break-in at the city’s post office overnight.