# Hundreds of ballots are destroyed after fires are set in ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 28, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355 "2024-10-28T16:57:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/21 "2024-10-28T17:59:51Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I do wonder why they are burning ballot boxes in two solidly blue states that have zero chance of going to Trump, rather than doing this in a swing state. To prove we should not have electronic voting. Wait! What? ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/22 "2024-10-28T18:04:47Z")
The only thing that surprises me is that it hasn’t happened sooner. Call me paranoid but don’t trust the USPS and don’t drop your mail-in ballot in an unguarded drop box. Take it directly to your county voter registration office and hand it to a real person. It’s that simple. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/23 "2024-10-28T18:05:29Z")
To show that if they do it here, they will not hesitate to do it anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/24 "2024-10-28T18:05:53Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I do wonder why they are burning ballot boxes in two solidly blue states that have zero chance of going to Trump, rather than doing this in a swing state. There might not be much thought to it beyond blowing it up. I mean, if I wanted to set a ballot box on fire, I’m just going to head over to a nearby one and do it there. I’m not going to drive to a different state. Plus, just the fact that they’re allowing them to cast another ballot is going to be, I think, a whole thing that people are going to get upset about. Lets see how long it takes for various talking heads to say that you only get to vote one time and if your vote got ruined in a dropbox, that’s your problem and you should’ve voted in person. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/25 "2024-10-28T18:08:52Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > To prove we should not have electronic voting. I think you mean mail voting, not electronic voting ---
**Author:** ![squidfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@squidfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squidfood)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/26 "2024-10-28T18:30:18Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I do wonder why they are burning ballot boxes in two solidly blue states that have zero chance of going to Trump, rather than doing this in a swing state. Not to give these yahoos any tactical credit, but at least some of these were in a couple very swingy districts that have been bellwethers for the direction the whole House takes. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/27 "2024-10-28T18:33:12Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I do wonder why they are burning ballot boxes in two solidly blue states that have zero chance of going to Trump, rather than doing this in a swing state. Maybe they’ll declare that questionable vote counts invalidates Oregon and Washington’s submitted results and they’ll have to suspend their electoral college votes while the case is slowly being considered. Expect a decision sometime in late 2025. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/28 "2024-10-28T18:35:38Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > The only thing that surprises me is that it hasn’t happened sooner. Call me paranoid but don’t trust the USPS and don’t drop your mail-in ballot in an unguarded drop box. Take it directly to your county voter registration office and hand it to a real person. It’s that simple. I can’t imagine that’s simple to do but if that’s what you want to do, wait until election day and vote in person. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/29 "2024-10-28T18:38:35Z")
According to CNN, only three ballots in the Portland box were damaged because there is fire suppressant inside the box. Election officials are contacting the three affected voters so they can fill out new ballots. “Hundreds” of ballots were damaged in the Vancouver box. Election officials are requesting that anyone who dropped ballots in that box contact them to check on the status of their ballot. > [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > What laws are violated here besides arson? Any Federal laws that would get the DOJ/FBI involved? To answer my own question: according to CNN, > Federal officials are investigating the incident in Portland and a second fire in nearby Vancouver, Washington, with the help of state and local law enforcement agencies, said Steve Bernd, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Seattle office. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/30 "2024-10-28T18:41:06Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I think you mean mail voting, not electronic voting It was a play on how MAGAs hate electronic voting so that this, like everything else, proves their point logic be damned. But yes, it also shows how we should ban early voting, voting by mail and Democrats voting. Oh, and electric vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/31 "2024-10-28T18:50:19Z")
Portland still exists? I thought it was burned to the ground in the BLM riots? /s ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/32 "2024-10-28T18:59:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I can’t imagine that’s simple to do but if that’s what you want to do, wait until election day and vote in person. Washington has voting centers, so I think you can vote in person there if you don’t want to vote by mail or use drop boxes. It’s probably less convenient for most people, though. Oregon does not have voting centers, so you have to use mail/drop boxes. Personally, I took my ballot to the county Elections Office, but there it’s a drop box too. The last time I was in that office, they had a box inside, but they may not any more. I used the one out in the parking lot set up for drive through dropping. I’m impressed that these boxes had fire suppression devices inside. Someone anticipated this kind of attack. The one in Portland worked, but for some reason the one in Vancouver failed, which is why so many ballots were destroyed there. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/33 "2024-10-28T19:03:38Z")
I was surprised about that as well, but they do make small fire suppression devices meant to hang over your stove. I’m guessing that’s what they used. [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61THxV90m0L._AC_SL1000_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61THxV90m0L._AC_SL1000_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/34 "2024-10-28T19:18:43Z")
Please make sure your ballot is accounted for, and consider dropping it _inside_ the courthouse, auditor’s or elections office, or other safeguarded location. Track your ballot at [Track Your Ballot or Ballot Application - Vote.org](https://www.vote.org/ballot-tracker-tools/) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/35 "2024-10-28T19:20:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What part of “Win at _any_ cost” are some of you having trouble understanding? MAGA slogan: If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/36 "2024-10-28T19:23:18Z")
As I mentioned elsewhere, places having ballot drop boxes just sitting out there unsupervised 24/7 worried me. Because of exactly this. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/37 "2024-10-28T19:24:32Z")
Mine is monitored 24/7 by a camera. I’ve never seen the camera, so it’s either a ruse (doubtful) or I’m just not clever enough to see it (far more likely!). ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/38 "2024-10-28T19:38:32Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I’m impressed that these boxes had fire suppression devices inside. Someone anticipated this kind of attack. The one in Portland worked, but for some reason the one in Vancouver failed, which is why so many ballots were destroyed there. Well, different states. Perhaps Washington didn’t take the precautions Oregon did. > [@Aspenglow](#): > > Mine is monitored 24/7 by a camera. One drop location we have is at a local sheriff’s office. I’m paranoid enough this year that I drove a little further to use that one. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/39 "2024-10-28T19:39:45Z")
One of the two Votemasters is a world-renowned computer scientist and he thinks that electronic voting would be a _terrible_ idea. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355/40 "2024-10-28T19:44:02Z")
The one I use has a camera next to the slot. I always give it a wave. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hundreds-of-ballots-are-destroyed-after-fires-are-set-in-ballot-drop-boxes-in-oregon-and-washington/1009355.md?page=3)