How safe is your King County ballot? Concerns sweep the Northwest following drop box fires

The FBI and local law enforcement in Vancouver, Washington, are investigating a fire set to a ballot drop box Monday morning at Fisher’s Landing. The fire, which destroyed dozens of ballots, is linked to a similar drop box fire in Portland, Oregon, which occurred shortly before, authorities say.

The similarities between the two incidents have raised concerns about voting security in the Pacific Northwest.

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Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said that just two weeks earlier, a suspicious device had been placed on another ballot drop box in Vancouver, causing minor damage but no harm to ballots. While ballot boxes in Washington’s Clark and King counties are equipped with fire suppression technology, the system at Fisher’s Landing failed.

Kimsey advised voters to check their ballot status online at VoteWA.gov, urging anyone who used the Fisher’s Landing drop box over the weekend to contact the Clark County Elections office for a replacement ballot.

Halei Watkins, communications manager for King County Elections, said there have been no security concerns involving ballot drop boxes in King County. The boxes, which are emptied at least once a day, are constructed of heavy-duty steel and feature multiple locking mechanisms, tamper-evident seals, and fire-suppression systems, she said.

“We also have fire stops in our drop boxes,” she added. “They will open up and basically drop like a fire extinguisher, kind of like powder on the ballots.”

Watkins emphasized community vigilance, encouraging voters to report any suspicious activity at ballot boxes and to track their ballots after submission.

“If they see something, if anything makes them nervous, they should go ahead and call their local law enforcement right away. Law enforcement are going to be the folks who respond to anything suspicious happening in a drop box,” she said.

At a news conference Monday, Democratic U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell expressed concern over the incidents in Vancouver and Portland.

“Washington has one of the highest voting percentage states in the country,” she said. “Washingtonians will not be intimidated when it comes to voting. I want state and local officials to know that we will make sure any federal resources necessary to help carry out the elections will be available to them.”

Cantwell said her office is in contact with Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security about ballot safety measures.

The FBI has urged anyone with information related to the incidents in Vancouver and Portland to contact their local FBI field office or submit tips online.