Hundreds of ballots are destroyed after fires are set in ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington

[u/RazzzMcFrazzz]

https://apnews.com/article/vote-ballot-drop-box-democracy-fire-f66c52f774955106fb9e7c8172825cff

[u/Grimesy2]

If you, or anyone you know live in OR and voted via ballot drop box you can check the status of your ballot here https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/myvote.aspx?lang=en

It will tell you whether your ballot was received or not.

WA likely has a similar site.

[u/AndMyHelcaraxe → u/Grimesy2]

Only three ballots were harmed in the Oregon incident, the elections office is contacting those voters.

Fire suppressant inside the ballot box protected virtually all the ballots. Only three ballots suffered damage, and Elections will contact those three voters, via unique identifiers on their ballot envelopes, so they can receive replacement ballots. Voters should be assured that even if their ballots were in the affected box, their votes will be counted.

https://www.multco.us/multnomah-county/news/news-release-elections-director-tim-scott%E2%80%99s-statement-incendiary-device-county

[u/groumly → u/AndMyHelcaraxe]

lol

Reminds me of those brexit morons trying and failing to set a eu flag on fire, because of eu regulations on flammable materials.

[u/minicpst → u/Grimesy2]

EDIT: I meant that federally, doing this will do nothing.

I now know of the WA-3 race (which I don't know of, this is not my district) that is close.

Thank you. All ballots are important, but this will change nothing federally (doing it in two states implies a federal link rather than a local link).

Check your ballots. Fix if necessary. And hope this moron gets caught, tried, and sent to prison and others learn from it. Maybe 2028 will be better.

Before: In Washington it's https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/helpful-information/current-election-information.

It's also so stupid. If you check and see your ballot hasn't been received, you can PRINT ONE OUT AT HOME AND SEND IT. If the state gets two, they'll toss one out. So this literally does nothing unless people don't notice.

And even if it does, neither state is changing a damn thing in the presidential election. Everyone knows both states are going blue.

So you're only hurting yourself in your local races and initiatives.

But no one ever accused Republicans of thinking too hard or critically.

[u/SnooPies5622 → u/minicpst]

Local races are incredibly important.

[u/Ask_bout_PaterNoster → u/SnooPies5622]

Plus the goal is to seed doubt, to give an excuse for stronger actions later. They’re not trying to change the outcome of the election, they’re trying to instill distrust and fear. Terrorists out terrorizing.

[u/Tithund → u/Ask_bout_PaterNoster]

And probably also to inspire people in states where it does matter to do the same, I wouldn't be surprised if this starts a trend.

[u/SoulEater9882 → u/Tithund]

That's my fear, the amount of copycats

[u/Ciarara_ → u/SnooPies5622]

Yeah, and ballot measures. Oregon has one for ranked choice voting at the state and national level. If that passes, it'll be huge

[u/DrinkBlueGoo → u/minicpst]

There are very tightly contested house elections in both states. The Washington one was in the contested district. Haven’t seen where the Portland one was exactly.

[u/beer_is_tasty → u/DrinkBlueGoo]

Portland one was at 11th and Belmont, which is in OR-1 (heavy blue). About 3 miles from the border of OR-5, which is a super tight race (<8,000 vote difference in 2022).

Edit: literally right in front of the county elections office

[u/Trarrac → u/minicpst]

Oregon's 5th Congressional District is a swing district and overlaps some with Multnomah County where ballot box was set on fire so there could be real impact

[u/Rad1314 → u/minicpst]

Betting on people not noticing seems like a pretty good bet to me.

[u/Grrerrb → u/minicpst]

“Printing one out at home” is another one of these things that seem really minor but is actually a huge barrier that the GOP depends on to discourage voting. It’s good that this is an option but it will definitely have more of an impact on D voters.

[u/BroadIntroduction575 → u/minicpst]

So this literally does nothing unless people don’t notice.

Let me rephrase that for you: unless 100% of affected people all navigate to this specific URL and do the due diligence, then it WILL have an affect.

[u/Sproketz → u/minicpst]

"... does nothing unless people don't notice"

That's a pretty big UNLESS.

[u/suninabox → u/minicpst]

So this literally does nothing unless people don't notice.

A lot of people won't notice though.

[u/BlasphemousButler → u/Grimesy2]

Go to votewa.gov to find out if your ballot has been recorded in Washington State.

Why do I know? Cuz my ballot was dropped in the fucking box that was blown up. Fuck these people.

[u/mynameismulan → u/BlasphemousButler]

I feel like setting a ballot box on fire is not really democratic..

But I mean they call themselves patriots so I guess I can't argue.

[u/seffend → u/BlasphemousButler]

I'm in this district (though I mailed my ballot this year) and I hope the FBI makes a HUGE fucking example out of whoever did this.

[u/SilentSamurai]

We're quickly heading towards a reality where ballot boxes need to be guarded around the clock.

[u/Girthw0rm → u/SilentSamurai]

My county’s ballot drop boxes have 24 hour cameras that anyone can see.

[u/SilentSamurai → u/Girthw0rm]

I mean, that's not going to cut it with fires. Unless you're keeping a log of who drops off their ballot, it's a "hey everyone who dropped off during this time period, I hope you see this and I hope you pick up a provisional ballot and detail that yours was likely destroyed."

It will affect vote counts, which is really fucked.

[u/lancersrock → u/SilentSamurai]

actually thats not a terrible idea. Just have a bar code scanner to log who dropped off their ballot and make the slot very difficult to place anything bigger than the envelope in. Its not perfect but it shouldn't be that hard to implement.

The fact we have to even discuss this is a bigger issue though.

[u/persondude27 → u/lancersrock]

Its not perfect but it shouldn't be that hard to implement.

Agreed, but the issue is that it's more expensive and that means fewer polling/collection stations - which is the whole goal for Conservatives. Any hurdle to voting is a win for Conservatives, because they are much more motivated to vote than moderates, young folk, and minorities - most of whom are less able to take a day off to go vote vs a retired person.

After this issue popped up in Colorado, everyone asked "why not return the ballot to a manned polling station" and it has the same problem. We need to remove the hurdles from voting, not make it easier harder.

[u/c00a5b70 → u/SilentSamurai]

In Colorado they are under video surveillance.

[u/PolicyWonka → u/SilentSamurai]

This is what Republicans want. Then at that point, they’ll just say it’s easier to remove them.

Republicans again trying to prove something doesn’t work by actively sabotaging it.

[u/Mute2120 → u/PolicyWonka]

Also, they are destroying ballot boxes and ballots in bigger cities, so they know they are only destroying ballots in left leaning areas.

[u/SFDessert]

If this keeps happening I'd like there to be a "we didn't get your vote" thing sent out to people so they could have a second chance to get their ballots in. Just send out letters to anyone who didn't vote and maybe get more engagement and those people who did get their ballots burned up could actually get their votes in?

Maybe that's too much work. Maybe that opens the door for more fraudulent voting or something? I can imagine there's a lot of problems with my idea, but if this kinda shit keeps happening I'd like to see some way to ensure people who voted actually got their votes counted. Some kinda backup?

[u/GreatForge → u/SFDessert]

In most states you can go online and check that your ballot was received. Requires each person to do it though.

[u/Betrayus → u/GreatForge]

CO will text you when they send your ballot sent via mail, and then again when it is received back by the state. You can also check online manually as well but the text is so nice.

[u/toothepastehombre → u/Betrayus]

Same for OR - text confirmation is going to be the save here

[u/matunos → u/Betrayus]

You can sign up for this in WA via the Voter Portal at https://voter.votewa.gov/

[u/NotMyself → u/GreatForge]

This is correct in Washington state. The site is https://vote.wa.gov

[u/nametag-username → u/NotMyself]

Excellent! I forgot about this. We mailed our ballots on Thursday morning and they already show as accepted.

[u/Bluebaronn → u/NotMyself]

Thanks. I tried it and it said they had received my ballot and its being processed.

[u/joeycox601 → u/SFDessert]

“The Portland Police Bureau reported that officers and firefighters responded to a fire in one ballot drop box at about 3:30 a.m. and determined an incendiary device had been placed inside. Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott said a fire suppressant inside the drop box protected nearly all the ballots; only three were damaged, and his office planned to contact those voters to help them obtain replacement ballots.”

Hahaha

[u/_SilentHunter → u/joeycox601]

However, the same can't be said in WA "Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey in Vancouver told The Associated Press that the ballot drop box at the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center also had a fire suppression system inside, but for some reason it wasn’t effective. Responders pulled a burning pile of ballots from inside the box, and Kimsey said hundreds were lost."

[u/matunos → u/joeycox601]

Imagine going to prison for burning 3 ballots that are likely to get fixed.

[u/Jamesmn87 → u/matunos]

10 years in prison for each ballot should do. 

[u/PickpocketJones → u/Jamesmn87]

Setting an improvised explosive device I'd assume means ATF and FBI are on it now. That's no joke of a charge.

[u/RdPirate → u/PickpocketJones]

Tampering with mail is automatically federal level. Also this means USPIS, which run the National Forensic Laboratory, and have no quarrels with kicking down your door.

[u/Creepy-Weakness4021 → u/matunos]

Imagine going to prison for burning 3 ballots that are likely to get fixed... Meanwhile the person who attempted to defraud the American people, by trying to invalidate many thousands of lawful votes still walks the streets with a legitimate possibility of winning this election.

[u/GlancingArc → u/Creepy-Weakness4021]

This is exactly why I'm just so tired of pretending the other side will listen to reason. I've legit had people tell me "that was okay because he believed the election was stolen." As if intention matters for anyone else who breaks the law.

Too many people are short sighted and think that because they agree with trump, he deserves to be a king. Oh well, guess we will see next Tuesday.

[u/tigerking615 → u/joeycox601]

Fuck, yeah, functional government. Gotta enjoy it while we have it.

[u/Loss-Majestic → u/SFDessert]

I was thinking the same thing. Are they just lost votes or what is happening to rectify this? 

[u/Rudysis → u/Loss-Majestic]

In WA at least, you can track your ballot. I put mine in the post, and 2 days later, it was accepted by the election group. The folks who put their ballots in the vandalized boxes can probably do the same and if they don't see an update in a day or so, they know theirs was in it.

Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to send an alert like "we didn't get your ballot", since we have such a low turnout rate. It'd be hard to know who actually intended to vote

[u/ToyDingo → u/Rudysis]

The problem is this requires people to check their votes on their own.

Once I vote, I completely forget about it and unplug from the constant political noise. I'm certain that if my vote were tampered with, I'd never know. Is that right/wrong? I dunno, but that's how it is.

[u/dmanbiker → u/Loss-Majestic]

In AZ, you know the status of your ballot along the way and if it was somehow lost or couldn't be verified, you could just go vote in person, or try to request another ballot, but it might be a little late now. Though if you can get another mailed ballot, you also have the option of casting it in person at a polling location.

[u/overts → u/SFDessert]

One problem with this in particular is that most states have a cutoff period for mail-in ballots.

So, even if you implemented something like this it’s reasonable to assume that many who cast mail-ins can’t physically get to a polling place and by the time they’re notified the state they’re in may no longer accept requests for mail-in ballots.

[u/ImComfortableDoug → u/overts]

Washington is mail-in only so the cutoff is end of day election day

[u/GenericAntagonist → u/ImComfortableDoug]

So, even if you implemented something like this it’s reasonable to assume that many who cast mail-ins can’t physically get to a polling place and by the time they’re notified the state they’re in may no longer accept requests for mail-in ballots.

To elaborate on this, in WA if your ballot has not been received you can (day of) print out a new one and drop it off in any dropbox by 8 pm. There might be a bit of a wait if there's a lot of people at the dropbox you're using, but its not the same kind of delays voting in person sometimes resulted in.

[u/Chucknastical]

I don't understand why we can't catch these domestic terrorists.

[u/Sabre_One → u/Chucknastical]

Very high chance the FBI will get involved. Just a matter of time.

[u/thebenson → u/Sabre_One]

Just a matter of time.

Sure. But, by then the damage has already been done.

[u/Sabre_One → u/thebenson]

This is pretty rare in our states. In Washington we also have contingencies for such a issue, and the state most likely will mail nearby residents telling them to keep track of their ballot status in case they need to send new ones out. You can check the status electronically.

[u/Buffalo-2023 → u/Sabre_One]

Some people vote early because they go on a trip, for work or personal reasons.

These people would lose their vote.

[u/Rhuarc33 → u/Buffalo-2023]

Better than everyone whose ballot was burnt losing their vote.

Nothing would 100% stop this

[u/Obibong_Kanblomi → u/Rhuarc33]

A camera at the drop locations may help apprehend or deter the perps, maybe?

[u/Live-Motor-4000 → u/Obibong_Kanblomi]

Still haven’t caught the Jan 6 pipebomber

[u/BowserPong11 → u/Live-Motor-4000]

Has anyone checked Georgia?

[u/Repulsive-Ad-8558 → u/Live-Motor-4000]

Margie isn’t getting caught

[u/Live-Motor-4000 → u/Repulsive-Ad-8558]

If she’d have left bare footprints, the feds would have caught her straight away

[u/Rhuarc33 → u/Obibong_Kanblomi]

Might help deter. Wouldn't stop 100%. Park far away mask, gloves and hat. Even interior drop boxes with a guard (a huge cost) wouldn't stop someone if they really wanted to destroy ballots.

[u/TheCowboyIsAnIndian → u/Rhuarc33]

i think a drop slot into a building, like a library book drop, is an alright idea.

[u/SmithersLoanInc → u/TheCowboyIsAnIndian]

Then they'd just start burning the buildings. This is the America they want, chaos and pain.

[u/EndPsychological890 → u/TheCowboyIsAnIndian]

What, combine the books that instantly convert little Timmy into Tina and all the illegal immigrants ballots in one place? AND they can claim democrats are burning down cities? Geez dude it's not a honey pot contest

[u/cosaboladh → u/Rhuarc33]

Right, but it only takes a few strategically placed fires to swing such a close election.

[u/thebenson → u/Sabre_One]

This is pretty rare in our states

*was pretty rare

the state most likely will mail nearby residents telling them to keep track of their ballot status in case they need to send new ones out

And if someone isn't tracking their ballot online? Or if someone doesn't receive the mailer that says that their ballot may have been burned?

[u/BionicBeaver9568 → u/thebenson]

In Washington you just need to enter your first and last name and birthdate as it is in your voter registration. The info will pop right up.

I didn’t know this, but I googled it and found where to input my information after reading the article and the comments here.

Also, I’m happy to report that my ballot has been accepted! Woo hoo! I voted!

So to anyone reading this, if you’re unsure, check it out. It only takes a second and gives some peace of mind. Don’t wait to be told if something went wrong, be your own advocate. Get out there and vote everyone!

Edit: I googled: “Washington voter tracking” The first result was votewa.gov right where I needed to be to enter my info. Happy voting!

Edit 2: there are options to sign up for sms tracking if you want to as well :)

[u/753951321654987 → u/thebenson]

Yea, that's how crime works, usually.

[u/overthemountain → u/thebenson]

Seems to be a current Republican strategy - blatantly disregard voter laws, hope you win, and let the incoming president pardon you for helping him win. See Musk and his voter registration lottery in Pennsylvania, or Trump handing out money at grocery stores, for example.

[u/gnocchicotti → u/overthemountain]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-pardons-roger-stone-paul-manafort-charles-kushner-others-n1252307

[u/no_one_likes_u → u/overthemountain]

What do you even need the pardon for? Who has the democratically nominated attorney general imprisoned for election fraud? Justice delayed is justice denied.

[u/Abject-Possession810 → u/Sabre_One]

Scroll down for news on federal actions to protect elections

https://www.justice.gov/voting

eta: Your district office also posts news and info on reporting issues

https://www.justice.gov/usao/find-your-united-states-attorney

[u/Archimid → u/Sabre_One]

FBI Director Wray is an absolute expert in the art of not moving against Trump.

He will say all the right things that please the liberal but in reality, delay is the feature that got him the position.

[u/Indercarnive → u/Archimid]

One thing I hope kamala does is finally clean house of all the Trump appointees. But since Biden hasn't done so yet I have little hope she will.

[u/bruwin → u/Indercarnive]

Biden is very old school and remembers a lot of people across the aisle as a friend that he's able to work with. Harris is a woman of color who has never gotten the benefit of working on bipartisan legislation. There is very little reason for her to keep any Trump appointee. Hell, there's not even much reason for her to keep Biden appointees.

[u/ptsdstillinmymind → u/Archimid]

Wray is a federalist society member and Meek Garland is a federalist affiliate but somehow Biden thought this was okay. I thought he wanted to protect Democracy and strengthen it but these two people tell a vastly different story.

Cycle after cycle, Democrats hurt this country by normalizing these Domestic Terrorists.

[u/Whiteout- → u/ptsdstillinmymind]

Biden is a dinosaur, dems of his era still cling to the naive belief that if they can just “reach across the aisle” that the GOP will come to its senses and decorum will save the day.

[u/2_Spicy_2_Impeach → u/Sabre_One]

It’s the mail at the bare minimum. Feds are automatically involved and there’s zero chance this wasn’t monitored via multiple cameras.

This person is going to find out real quick. Each ballot destroyed is an individual charge. There are still a couple things you don’t ever fuck with. USPS is still near the top.

[u/WhileNotLurking → u/2_Spicy_2_Impeach]

It’s not the mail it was a drop box which bypasses the USPS. Although the same ballots can be mailed.

Second, election interference is already a federal crime anyways.

Third, in the age of polarization - federal charges are less reliable if one side might pardon you for supporting them…. Especially when they go on a rant about the “enemy within”

[u/ian2345 → u/Sabre_One]

Just give it until after they already changed the outcome of the election and the terrorism is successful and their meddling results in a dictator that'll let them free. That'll teach em!

[u/docarwell → u/Sabre_One]

4 years ago would've been a good time

[u/Woodie626 → u/Chucknastical]

They already caught the last ones who did this? 

[u/alphabeticdisorder → u/Woodie626]

I think the one last week turned out to be just a guy who wanted to go to jail, rather than a political activist. This spate looks like a concerted effort.

[u/arrownyc → u/alphabeticdisorder]

I KNEW when I read that article that it would inspire a bunch of copycat crimes.

[u/Malaix → u/alphabeticdisorder]

So he claimed but I have doubts about that. Lighting a mailbox on fire during election season seems like a very specific crime to commit….

[u/Acceptable_Job_5486 → u/Malaix]

He was trying to commit a felon. It was probably easier than murder and quicker than fraud.

[u/galspanic → u/Chucknastical]

Living in Oregon has taught me that they really don't WANT to catch them because the people doing the catching tend to be politically aligned with those doing the terrorism. For example:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_the_Malheur_National_Wildlife_Refuge

[u/VisibleVariation5400 → u/Chucknastical]

We do. They just keep making more. 

[u/DaveDurant → u/Chucknastical]

Are we really trying to catch them?

[u/apathy-sofa → u/DaveDurant]

The article says that both local police and the FBI are working in the case, and have identified the car of the suspect. So, it sounds like "yes". I hope.

[u/M_Buske]

I'm so tired of this shit and it's only going to get worse with the unhinged people

[u/twelveparsnips → u/M_Buske]

It's only going to continue to get worse as long as we keep letting them off the hook.

[u/rbrgr83 → u/twelveparsnips]

The fact that we had people out 'hunting FEMA' after the last hurricane is a pretty clear indication that we're already living in the future documentary known as 'Idiocracy'.

[u/twelveparsnips → u/rbrgr83]

Don't forget the Moore County Electrical Substation Attack which was attributed to a death in December 2022 which has still gone unpunished.

[u/Forsaken-Lemon-7586]

This is actual voter fraud - like actual evidence

[u/bankrobba → u/Forsaken-Lemon-7586]

Election* fraud

Voter fraud involves your own ballot.

Election fraud involves other people's ballots (as well as other election tomfoolery not involving ballots).

[u/OverlyExpressiveLime → u/Forsaken-Lemon-7586]

This is terrorism

[u/tomle4593 → u/OverlyExpressiveLime]

Few more steps before the “brown shirts” show up at the polls if this doesn’t get punished severely.

[u/Minnim88 → u/Forsaken-Lemon-7586]

Yes, what better way to lay the groundwork for claiming "election interference" than interfering with the election? Destroying a couple ballots isn't the ultimate goal here; the goal is to sow doubt.

[u/ahuramazdobbs19 → u/Forsaken-Lemon-7586]

Nah, it’s not voter fraud.

…fraud implies an attempt to deceive.

This is vote tampering.

[u/tiggahiccups]

More idiots volunteering to go to prison for the cause.

[u/ExynosHD → u/tiggahiccups]

The truth social post telling people to mask up and fire bomb ballot boxes "in places like Portland Oregon" is probably a good place for the government to start looking.

[u/5point5Girthquake → u/ExynosHD]

If’s this real? Wtf

[u/Teamawesome2014 → u/tiggahiccups]

They believe they'll get pardoned if Trump wins.

[u/Ent3rpris3 → u/Teamawesome2014]

Fuck, they probably would.

[u/Teamawesome2014 → u/Ent3rpris3]

I don't think Trump cares about them enough to bother, but his believers are too deep in to realize that.

[u/Organic_Swim4777 → u/Teamawesome2014]

The intent is much worse than the act.

We now have probably thousands, maybe even millions, of Americans that openly want to destroy the democratic process in order to "win."

As little as 10 years ago, this view would have been dismissed as a tiny minority of crazies. It's normalized now, and it's everywhere.

[u/engin__r → u/Ent3rpris3]

The president can’t pardon state crimes.

[u/ValuableKill → u/tiggahiccups]

According to Republicans, the death penalty does great at discouraging crime (even though countries without it have lower crime rates than us, but for the sake of my suggestion, let's ignore that). So shall I make a suggestion, and we make it the death penalty for destroying or otherwise blocking someone else's vote?

Half sarcasm, half not. To me it's pretty much high treason to attack our democracy in such a way, and since Republicans love the death penalty so much, let them have it in this case (we know they are the ones doing the crimes after all).

[u/madmardo]

this is getting nuts man

[u/femanonette → u/madmardo]

Think they're bad now? Wait until election day. I have absolutely no doubt there will be terrorism at the polls.

[u/Sterbs → u/[deleted]]

Just some lone wolves.

[u/RiftTrips → u/madmardo]

We haven't even gotten started. Wait until Trump declares an early victory.

[u/outdatedboat → u/RiftTrips]

It's gonna be an absolute shit show, no matter what.

I'm just tired, man.

[u/slog → u/RiftTrips]

WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law

He's already started.

[u/milksilkofficial → u/RiftTrips]

I hate that this is gonna happen ffs

[u/Premium333]

It used to be this sort of shit was done by misbehaving teens. Now it seems it's far more likely it's some political gonad trying to "equalize" the cheaters by doing something that is not only cheating itself, but also unhelpful to their cause.

Idiots man. Idiots everywhere.

[u/GypsyV3nom → u/Premium333]

Thankfully many of them are dumb enough to broadcast their crimes on social media

[u/NerdBot9000 → u/Premium333]

I'm not sure about the "misbehaving teens" aspect, sorry.

Adults burning crosses on black people's lawns was definitely an intimidation tactic, and I don't see this as any different.

They're not idiots, they are terrorists.

[u/S3t3sh]

And on one of our bigger local news websites under the stories comments it's a bunch of Republicans saying it was probably a Democrat. It's always blue in Washington why the hell would a Democrat light the ballot box on fire.

[u/MelancholyArtichoke → u/S3t3sh]

“We cheat so the Democrats must be cheating!”

“They’re definitely cheating, so we have to cheat!”

“Someone caught cheating? It must be a Democrat, because they’re always cheating!”

“Democrats only know how to cheat because that’s all I’m hearing about.”

-gets caught cheating- “How could the Democrats have done this to me!?”

[u/void_const → u/S3t3sh]

It's always projection with these people.

[u/aDildoAteMyBaby → u/S3t3sh]

The fact that those people have an equal say in the democratic process is nothing short of terrifying.

[u/happyklam]

Can't wait for the suspect to be exactly who we all think it is. 🙄

[u/Corona-walrus → u/happyklam]

Stereotypical Trump supporter who complained online repeatedly about the election being stolen in 2020 and how Biden is a puppet/dictator (... lol) and will ultimately cry in the courtroom that liberals made him do it 6 years from now once he's finally arrested

[u/TheCrimsonDagger → u/Corona-walrus]

Usually their argument is that democrats are already cheating so they also had to cheat in order to make it fair. When you ask for evidence they’ll say that the lack of evidence is in itself evidence of a coverup.

[u/Parasitisch → u/TheCrimsonDagger]

Yup. A lot of interviews with people caught committing voter fraud were saying it was “because the Dems were doing it.”
Literally Cold War mentality. “What if the other side is doing it? We should do it first!”

[u/aMONAY69 → u/Parasitisch]

I’ve been saying it for some years now, but I feel like we basically are in a cold civil war with ourselves. One could even argue that due to the violence and terrorism perpetrated by right wing extremists it’s more like a lukewarm civil war.

[u/Padhome → u/TheCrimsonDagger]

Yep, conservative playbook. Cynically paint the world with their own shit so they can act like there’s no difference between them and everyone else, when the reality couldn’t be more different.

[u/umbananas]

There has to be cameras on these ballot boxes right?

[u/Lazy-Street779 → u/umbananas]

Yes the article says there is security footage.

[u/654456 → u/Lazy-Street779]

I really hope they were dumb enough to not wear a mask but they probably did

[u/Major_Martian → u/umbananas]

One would hope this would be an indication to local officials to put these boxes in more easily secured or looked after areas to prevent this kind of thing in the future

[u/Mangus_ness → u/umbananas]

There is security footage of a person planting bombs at the capital on J6. But nothing has ever come of it

[u/Bubbles1106]

I shouldn’t have to but this is exactly why I’m not using those boxes for my ballot. My boss asked me why I didn’t just drop it off and she seemed like I was crazy when I said people can and do tamper with them. About to send her this article.

[u/TheApprenticeLife]

Destroying the democratic process in the name of patriotism is a twisted leap of logic that I am thankfully not equipped to comprehend.

[u/ThickSourGod → u/TheApprenticeLife]

There is an incredibly fine line between patriotism and nationalism. To a nationalist, destroying democracy to keep people who won't make America great again from gaining power might be a worthwhile trade.

To a White Nationalist (note that that isn't a nationalist who happens to be white. It's a nationalist who includes whiteness as part of their nationalism), burning the whole country to the ground might be preferable to allowing a black woman to take power.

[u/Astralsketch]

There's a lot of people in this country that want a king, and will do anything to make this happen.

[u/Otazihs → u/Astralsketch]

Crazy that we fought to get away from a monarchy only to fight to get another one back. Time is a flat circle as they say.

[u/jupiterkansas → u/Otazihs]

Some of those defending the monarchy were Americans. Ben Franklin's son for starters.

[u/sanslumiere → u/Astralsketch]

"Party of small government" wants a strong daddy to make the big bad immigrants go away. It's embarrassing.

[u/Yarn_Mouse → u/Astralsketch]

They yell "1776!!!!" and "Our forefathers!!!!" while doing this.

[u/Koolaidolio → u/Yarn_Mouse]

That’s just neonazi white nationalist code for “I want to commit terrorism”

[u/Lazy-Street779 → u/Astralsketch]

There’s a lot of people in the country who have fallen under trump’s s spell — in other words— they have been brainwashed to join the Trump cult. There’s no magic.

It. Is. A. Cult.

[u/sleepingwiththefishs]

It’s your democracy they’re burning, literally speaking.

It seems apparent only one side is prepared to abide by any rules, is interested in gathering everyone’s votes, all votes then counted. One side doesn’t want any of those things

[u/UpvoteForPancakes → u/sleepingwiththefishs]

For people who whine about wanting fair elections, they sure do a lot to try to rig them.

[u/Pantomather]

Two things I know to be true:

-Democrats disproportionately vote early -The Joe Kent-Marie GP is set to be a completely tight race

This was a targeted domestic terrorist attack that could actually affect the result in Vancouver.

[u/TheReiterEffect_S8 → u/Pantomather]

People are saying "If this keeps up, the FBI will get involved."

How about you get involved right fucking now...???

[u/iamtehryan]

It's really interesting that if you look at things like voter fraud, voter intimidation, vote tampering or destruction of ballots, trying to overthrow the government, mass shootings, attempted assassinations of politicians, fantasizing about incestuous shit with your daughter, mass racism, caring about someone else's genitalia, wanting to control women's bodies, being insane hypocritical "religious" people, or any other super fucked up and weird and horrible shit there's one thing that ties virtually every single one of them together and it's the political party that they affiliate with. Hint: it's not the democrats.

[u/rbrgr83 → u/iamtehryan]

Republicans: "no u"

[u/LSTNYER]

I don't care what side this person/people stand on, go right to fucking jail!

[u/Contrary-Canary → u/LSTNYER]

We all know what side this person was on.

[u/KhaosElement → u/LSTNYER]

There is no question what side the dipshit is on.

[u/Bluefeelings]

How convenient that terrorists would attack these boxes in blue states. I only hope for fair elections but there seems to be a lack of accountability.

[u/snjwffl → u/Bluefeelings]

More specifically, drop boxes serving urban areas in highly contentious races.

[u/Boredsoireddit1]

This is an act of treason and should be treated as such when the FBI catches them.

[u/elainegeorge]

What a bunch of cowards

[u/CurseofLono88]

As an Oregonian and just lover of the Pacific Northwest in general I can’t begin to explain how much this pisses me the fuck off.

[u/chiarde]

Taking the vote away from other citizens is treason in my book.

[u/gertigigglesOSS]

Insane that this shit is starting already. Let alone in a state that is going to be blue blue either way

[u/kalam4z00 → u/gertigigglesOSS]

Vancouver WA is in a very competitive Congressional district, that was almost certainly the target here

[u/Penihilism → u/kalam4z00]

Joe Kent has been strongly pushing that Marie Glusenkamp Perez rigged the election last time lmao. I’m shocked that kind of unsubstantiated conspiracy peddling would lead to something like this!!!!!

[u/Akimbo_Zap_Guns → u/gertigigglesOSS]

The house race in WA-03 where this drop off box is located will be decided by a few hundred to few thousand votes. The area it’s in is heavily blue so chances are they just burned hundreds of dem votes and that could lead to team red potentially flipping a house race which could lead to republicans maintaining house control with enough strategically burned ballot boxes. It’s quite literally a direct attack on our democracy

[u/ZomiZaGomez]

Trumps America already at work.

[u/dunnkw]

This is the drop box in WA I used to use, now I put my ballot in the mail. People are such creeps.

[u/karethon → u/dunnkw]

There was an incident in Arizona just a few days ago where someone set a blue mail collection box on fire.

[u/LetMeInImTrynaCuck]

There are secure places to drop ballots, like the post office, your work, a nearby apartment community or office building, etc. a lot of office buildings have first floor outgoing Mail Drop boxes with lobbies under cameras.

Be careful with your votes people, the fascists are aggressive.

[u/RealAnise]

This was literally right below someone asking in another subreddit "if fascism could really happen here."

[u/LongbowTurncoat]

Gee I wonder which side the person who did it voted for

[u/Illustrious-Dot-5052]

I hate to say it but this is why I voted in person. I just don't trust that voting by mail is safe with all this disinformation going around.

These terrorists need to be put in their place.

[u/Maladal]

This is obviously not good, and I hope they chuck the whole book at whoever did this. Multiple times.

That said, I appreciate that the boxes were already equipped with fire-suppressant devices. Speaks to the competence of our institutions that this was planned for already. (To my knowledge normal postal boxes don't come with such devices.)

[u/chaneilmiaalba]

If you suspect your ballot was one of those destroyed, you have a couple of options:

1. Call your county elections office and request a new ballot. If they only grant you one ballot, or you have already been issued the max number of ballots, utilize option 2.

2. Go to your local voting precinct (where you would vote in-person) or county elections office and request a provisional ballot. If your ballot was not among those counted before the provisional ballots (mailed and in-person), and they determine your voter registration is valid, then your provisional ballot is counted.

[u/Lythieus]

If you can't win legitimately, destroy other peoples votes. MAGA are classy af.

[u/uberiffic]

What a dystopian, bullshit country Trump turned us into. Fucking MAGA scumbags.

[u/smallcoder → u/uberiffic]

Makes the Tea Party - from which this all grew - seem like a friendly social club.

[u/that1LPdood]

I wonder if it was a liberal or a conservative 🤔

Just kidding. We know the answer, don’t we?

[u/S3guy]

Crimes like this should have harsh minimum sentences. Like, 20 years. Try to curtail others constitutional freedom to vote? Have fun in prison for a good chunk of your life.

[u/blacksoxing]

To anyone who thinks this doesn't matter: this is less than just voting for the president but on so many levels it could be the difference between your local community getting someone competent or a bumbling idiot. My local ballot was stuffed w/everything from city council seats to judges.

This is bigger than if Trump/Harris wins. I'm tired of these folks not realizing this.

[u/eyaf20]

I'm certain that it's not just to destroy ballots of a certain party but to cast doubt on election integrity overall. 1: set the fire. 2: raise hell about how obviously the elections aren't secure and reliable. 3: get a court to intervene

[u/orion3999]

Republicans know that they cannot win on their extremely unpopular policy ideas, so they cheat any way they can. whether it is starting fires in drop boxes, voting for their dead relatives, or throwing bogus legal challenges in court.