Incendiary device damages ballot box in SE Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – An incendiary device damaged a ballot box in southeast Portland early Monday morning, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

About 3:30 a.m., officers responded to a report of a fire at a ballot box in the 1000 block of Southeast Morrison Street, about a block from the Multnomah County elections office.

By the time officers arrived at the polls, police said the fire had been extinguished by security working in the area.

According to police, officers determined an incendiary device had been placed on the ballot box and lit the fire.

PPB’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EDU) responded and cleared the device.

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Police are investigating after a ballot box was set on fire in Vancouver early Monday morning.

Multnomah County says there was a fire extinguisher in the ballot box and only three ballots were damaged. Election officials will contact these voters so they can receive replacement ballots.

Anyone who placed their ballot in the ballot box on SE Belmont between 3:30 PM on Saturday, October 26 and 3:00 AM on Monday can contact Elections at 503-988-6826 if they have any concerns.

The FBI is investigating this incident and the one in Vancouver That also happened Monday morning:

“The FBI is working with federal, state and local partners to actively investigate the two incidents in Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon, in the early morning hours of Monday, October 28, to determine who is responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the nearest FBI office and provide information at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324).”

If anyone has any information regarding this recent arson, please contact Detective Meredith Hopper of the Portland Police Bureau at [email protected] or call the PF&R Fire Investigation Unit tip line, 503-823-FIRE (3473). Please mention case number 24-276181.