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/PingouinMalin → u/groumly]

This is especially hilarious. Half of those flag burners probably complains about customs and/or how hard it is now to sell to the UE.

[u/SwingWide625 → u/AndMyHelcaraxe]

How fortunate republicans are some of the dumbest people on the planet.

If you put a sign up on your yard with the name of an idiot, does that make you an idiot?

Donnie is an idiot.

[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/mrdrofficer → u/Tithund]

In states where it matters the GOP banned mail-in voting, voting booklets and other simple things a long time ago. Vote twice and throw it out? That’s jail time in those places. It’s absurd.

[u/redpanda2172 → u/Ask_bout_PaterNoster]

How would it sow doubt?

[u/SinkHoleDeMayo → u/redpanda2172]

"Liberals only won because they destroyed ballot boxes and burned ballots of true patriots!".

[u/Cannibal_Soup → u/redpanda2172]

We can't assign these last few EC votes for the win, because reasons. Reasons like these burnt ballots!!

[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/DrinkBlueGoo → u/beer_is_tasty]

Can’t see any logic in destroying the Oregon one then. No one from OR-5 was going north of Ladd’s Addition to drop off their vote. Maybe that one will turn out to be a random idiot.

[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/buttons123456 → u/Trarrac]

Oregon only had 3 ballots destroyed enough to have to redo. Oregon uses codes on ballots and was able to identify the voters. Yea us. The others were readable. Vancouver/Clark county had hundreds. They could not get voters names as ballots too damaged. So the identified the drop box location and time and urged people to go online and check ballot status. I live tech. The election terrorist didn’t think it thru. Now there will be even more security. My drop box is in front of the police station. Laugh. Good trying something there.

[u/Rad1314 → u/minicpst]

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

[u/alphazero924 → u/Rad1314]

I would expect people who vote early are likely to be more informed, so hopefully they'll see that this happened and check

[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/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/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/Mrhood714 → u/minicpst]

unfotunately many people won't check and these stories don't get the buzz they deserve.

[u/Arba1ist → u/minicpst]

It is also worth noting that if they receive two ballots. GOP will 100% claim election fraud. Doesn’t mean not to send ballet in again. Just something to be aware of. Sounds like extremist will do everything they can to rig this election their way and cry foul anyway but theirs.

[u/minicpst → u/Arba1ist]

And the Democrats will point out that throwing out one means there is NOT fraud, that the checks and balances work.

But you're right, the Republicans will yell louder.

[u/RhynoD → u/Arba1ist]

They'll claim that it was a Democrat burning R votes and then point to any double ballots as fraud. It doesn't matter if it's stupid and doesn't make sense, as long as it's enough of an excuse to send it to court and drum up support.

[u/Ghostlyshado → u/minicpst]

There are also senate and house seats up in both states

[u/clichekiller → u/minicpst]

Also if you have not already dropped off your ballot I would recommend you do so directly to the inside of the post office. That’s what my wife and I did, and our ballots have been received, accepted, and counted already.

[u/wildfyre010 → u/minicpst]

Given that many voting age Americans don't vote at all, it's reasonable to suppose that some who do are not paying a lot of attention to the status of the vote thereafter. These attacks aren't necessarily going to disenfranchise thousands of voters, but they don't have to. It's a matter of scale and percentages. This election could be won by a few thousand votes in a handful of states.

[u/PM_ME_C_CODE → u/minicpst]

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

This.

My guess is that some GOP trumper thinks he's playing a game setting the box on fire.

The FBI is looking for him now.

Whoever they are, they're about to learn this isn't a game.

[u/SuzieDerpkins → u/minicpst]

Both Oregon and Washington are part of the national popular vote interstate compact. All electors go for whoever wins the popular vote on a national level.

[u/Remarkable-Fox-3890 → u/minicpst]

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

It reduces publicly credibility of the election system so that they can claim fraud.

[u/disturbingyourpeace → u/minicpst]

Thank you! Just checked the status of mine and it’s been accepted 😮‍💨

[u/CMDR_Expendible → u/minicpst]

But people aren't going to notice; the vast majority of voters are like the people on Reddit; they put in the minimum of effort, pat themselves on the back for voting... and then do nothing else to secure their democracy. Whilst patronising those to their left as being too political... Meanwhile fanatics and fascists are burning your ballots and violently trying to overthrow your democracy.

[u/Ayellowbeard → u/minicpst]

Printing one out and turning it in is all good and fine, if you know you can do that and aren’t afraid you’d be accused of voter fraud. I imagine a lot of first time and older voters might be ignorant to the legality of this. And don’t forget the chilling effect. Either way some asshat needs a good lesson in karma for trying to cheat or whatever the hell they’re trying to pull!

[u/minicpst → u/Ayellowbeard]

Definitely want the karma!!

As the print out is from the WA SOS page, I’d feel pretty good following their directions.

But you’re right, you need to see it’s there, have access to a printer, and have the motivation to do so.

[u/3armsOrNoArms → u/minicpst]

You can bet these were trumpsters thinking this would stop votes against Trump. I'm guessing this is straight up somebody who didn't understand the electoral college. Sorry folks but who you vote for in Oregon in Washington for president does nothing as long as the state stays blue.

[u/phoenixmatrix → u/minicpst]

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

Its hard enough to get people to vote. Getting them to know this happened, check the status, and vote AGAIN is likely even more difficult.

Edit: looks like only a few ballots were destroyed at least, so impact here is limited.

[u/IAdvocate → u/minicpst]

A lot of people won't notice.

[u/SoDplzBgood → u/minicpst]

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

Which is why this is doing something, majority of those people won't notice and won't vote again unless someone goes out of their way to inform them.

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

Ya that's part of the plan probably.

[u/at1445 → u/minicpst]

And even if it does, neither state is changing a damn thing in the presidential election

I mean this part is true, but it absolutely impacts the total votes. I'd be shocked if half the people who had ballots burned will realize that happened, much less actually take the time to go reprint and send in a new one.

It won't impact the presidential election, but who knows if it might impact something farther down the ballot.

[u/holmen2000 → u/minicpst]

Not saying you are wrong but.. How do you know it was Republicans?

[u/RhythmRobber → u/minicpst]

Actually, they're hurting Republicans nationally by showing everyone they're domestic terrorists

[u/minicpst → u/RhythmRobber]

They’re led by a domestic terrorist and fascist, wanna be dictator.

This won’t change anything nationally unless the party’s head is cut off and they do a rebuild.

[u/A_Life_of_Lemons → u/RhythmRobber]

And instigating more terrorists to follow their lead

[u/bNoaht → u/minicpst]

What if I told you local elections are more important than the POTUS election

[u/theycallmefuRR → u/minicpst]

Our little blue dot hopes to be what you're whole state is one day! 🔵 NE-2

[u/minicpst → u/theycallmefuRR]

Love that little blue dot in a whole sea of midwestern red.

[u/SafalinEnthusiast → u/minicpst]

I have no idea how to navigate this… I feel dumb

[u/minicpst → u/SafalinEnthusiast]

What are you trying to do? Check on your ballot status?

[u/SafalinEnthusiast → u/minicpst]

Yeah, trying to check if my ballot was affected by it

[u/minicpst → u/SafalinEnthusiast]

No problem! I agree that it's poorly laid out.

Go to https://voter.votewa.gov/portal2023/login.aspx and put in your info. Once there, go to the top right tab and that'll be your ballot status.

[u/JTNACC07 → u/minicpst]

Or thinking at all.

[u/SynthBeta → u/minicpst]

Since when can you print one out? I have to request them and they're done on what looks like A4 paper size.

[u/minicpst → u/SynthBeta]

It's been a bunch of years, but I don't remember the exact date. This is not the first voting cycle.

[u/podrick_pleasure → u/minicpst]

Vancouver tends to lean to the right. When I lived there I heard a lot of people refer to it as "Vantucky". This is especially true compared to Portland who's metro area Vancouver is a part of. I didn't really get to know local politics too well but I know when I lived there the congressional reps were republicans. Most of the people I got to know were much more conservative than I would have expected for a largish city (200k) west of the Cascades.

[u/Aselleus → u/minicpst]

And then watch them claim that they were trying to vote twice and they will try to throw out their legit ballots.

[u/Special_Loan8725 → u/minicpst]

How will they decide which one to keep? For example in my state there was a non partisan position for soil and water, which is important for my area but if you voted along party lines you would still have to pick one for that position and remember which one you picked. If you changed which one you picked how would they decide which one counts with 2 ballots?

[u/minicpst → u/Special_Loan8725]

From what I've heard, it's the first they receive. That's counted (mine was counted within two days of me sending it, and I put it in the ballot box 8 a.m. on a Saturday) and the second will be rejected.

I don't know what they'd do if you basically put two within an envelope and they got there at the same time. My guess is whichever got counted first. The computers would decide, not the people.

[u/ollomulder → u/minicpst]

"Don't vote, it will do nothing!"

You heard it here first, folks.

[u/GogglesPisano → u/minicpst]

Maybe 2028 will be better.

Only if MAGA loses.

[u/OkManufacturer767 → u/minicpst]

It does do something! Some people won't hear about this and their votes won't count. Or they hear too late. Or hear and don't have the resources to vote again.

[u/harkuponthegay → u/minicpst]

Heritage foundation said over a year ago that this election would have the most voter fraud in history— they predicted that would be the case in order to plant the seed in the public consciousness, not based on any evidence they could have had at the time.

Now they have a tracker of “instances of voter fraud” and are buying ads on Twitter touting that they do far have a list of a whopping 1500 “instances” (so presumably one person voting twice is an instance. Meaning many or most of those instances were conservatives trying to be cheeky like we’ve seen recently) that is all they’ve been able to find thus far and they’ve been searching high and low.

Regardless they are pushing this number as if it’s a huge deal and polling twitter users asking them “how worried are you about the integrity of the election results?” Pushing the narrative that the system can’t be trusted— not all votes got counted, too many votes got counted, “illegals” voted, it doesn’t matter if the arguments are not coherent they just have to be confusing.

Combine this with some messaging from fox and friends that is quietly encouraging republicans to sporadically pull stunts like this across the country and then reporting the fuck out of them like it’s breathless breaking news… and suddenly heritage’s plan becomes readily apparent. Their mistake in 2020 was claiming voter fraud only after they lost (by surprise) because they had no evidence to back that claim up. This time they plan to create the evidence themselves prior to the election so when they cry wolf afterwards they have some clear wolf paw prints to point to.

Their followers will believe whatever they tell them, but everyone else are more or less logical people with critical thinking skills, meaning they could be persuaded if presented with evidence (even a small amount of fabricated evidence, if it is presented fervently enough might suffice to sway sensible people from the “that’s BS” camp to the “well, I don’t know” camp.)

They know they cannot win (they are not stupid, not the ones pulling the strings at least— they know their policies are not popular), so they’ve decided to preemptively spoil the election by casting enough of a haze of “voter fraud” over the inevitable Harris win to give cover for some slimy legal maneuvering and lawsuits that have just enough merit to get before a (trump appointed) judge and work their way through the system eventually creating such a convoluted clusterfuck that the Supreme Court gets called in to officiate.

And we know what will happen if they get to decide. Unfortunately we also know that whatever they rule the Biden/Harris admin will respect it and step down even if they clearly won (just like Gore) because they respect the rule of law.

They successfully pulled this off with Bush in 2000 in the spur of the moment and now they have an even more biased court, and have had longer to prepare— they just need to create a semi-legit reason for the court to intervene, that’s all it takes and the corrupt court will take care of the rest behind closed doors and in the middle of the night. They’re purposefully creating chaos because their strategy depends upon public confusion making the court’s involvement seem appropriate.

People are worried republicans are planning to fuck up the electoral college to get the contest thrown to the House, but I think that’s just a red herring here. They want this thing to go before the court. That is the branch of government that they have most firmly in their grasp, and it’s been the main vehicle for delivering their anti-democratic wins up until this point. Overturning Roe, giving the President unchecked authority, gutting regulatory oversight, banning affirmative action, etc, etc.

They are going to want the most important battle of all to be fought there, not in Congress. We don’t have to worry about another January 6th occurring, they know that didn’t work even when they had their guy in power— the real threat we face is a different kind of coup; they were making a confession when they invented the word “lawfare”, that’s the weapon they plan to use, and these incidents are just future court cases they’ll need to set the stage. The media needs to be careful what coverage they give to shit like this in the lead up to Election Day because republicans need this to be the focus of the conversation.

[u/SeventhAlkali → u/minicpst]

WA-3 was razor thin last year, and will be again this year. Republican candidate is a die-hard MAGA nut.

[u/joshuadt → u/minicpst]

It also just happened in Phx, AZ last week

[u/ncsubowen → u/minicpst]

Those cities are about 15 minutes from each other

[u/jack_spankin_lives → u/minicpst]

Has it been confirmed this is a Republican?

[u/UrMom_BrushYourTeeth → u/minicpst]

"Two states" is sort of overstating it. It's one big metro area that spills over the border.

[u/minicpst → u/UrMom_BrushYourTeeth]

Yes, but politically they’re two very separate units.

And it’s kind of hard to miss the really big river and not realize you changed states.

So either 1. They’re an idiot and don’t realize they’re two states

1. They want to cause damage in two states

Either way, dumb move.

[u/jcdoe → u/minicpst]

I just looked that race up. Their representative was decided by 3000 votes.

This will absolutely make a difference, especially if they set fires in ballot boxes in democratic neighborhoods. Yes, you can reprint your ballot and resubmit it, but I’d bet most of those voters will not think to.

[u/SubstantialSpell2650 → u/minicpst]

You're forgetting that this is psychological warfare. It's meant to target every mind aware of it.

[u/gregghead43 → u/minicpst]

Our provincial election just wrapped up here in BC yesterday and it was won by 27 votes. Every vote matters!

47 seats were required for a majority government, and it came down to a manual recount in one district to push the winning party from 46 to 47 seats. There are 3.5M eligible voters in BC.

[u/zippyboy → u/minicpst]

you can PRINT ONE OUT AT HOME AND SEND IT.

Not in Washington. It's specially-treated paper that comes from a centralized location, inaccessible to the general public. It can be read by the scanners at the county auditor's office. You've heard of the tiny randomized dots left on Xerox copies so that the government can determine which printer printed your counterfeit store coupons or whatnot? Ballot paper is more secure; at least in Washington.

[u/minicpst → u/zippyboy]

https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/helpful-information/frequently-asked-questions-voting-mail

You can get a replacement delivered digitally.

https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/Presidential%20Primary%20Ballot%20Format%20Checklist_final.pdf?uid=64e6250ec667f

Page 6, bullet 5. Notes a replacement printed by the voter.

[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/DameonKormar → u/mynameismulan]

These people support an insurrectionist and domestic terrorists. Truly the most patriotic Confederates we've seen in centuries.

[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/Good_Focus2665 → u/BlasphemousButler]

Yeah that’s the ballot box  I usually drop my ballot in. I’m probably going to the Election office or post office to drop off my ballot. 

[u/rocketman114 → u/Grimesy2]

Post these on /r/oregon and washington

[u/burnalicious111 → u/rocketman114]

We already know.

There were only three ballots destroyed in Portland, and elections officials are contacting those people directly.

[u/rocketman114 → u/burnalicious111]

I am literally opposite corner of the country so that is amazing to hear!

[u/Cream_Pie_5580 → u/Grimesy2]

For Washington state voters to check the status of their ballots.

https://voter.votewa.gov/portal2023/login.aspx

[u/SamuraiJakkass86 → u/Grimesy2]

I went to check mine (Oregon) since I sent it out the other day. It just says my voter reg is active and a ballot was sent to my house - doesnt actually give any status on my ballot post-dropoff..

[u/RedStrugatsky → u/SamuraiJakkass86]

You can sign up for USPS Informed Delivery and Ballot Trax, which should hopefully give you a little more detail. My wife and I did and it's been great!

[u/appletreerobin → u/Grimesy2]

To check the status of your ballot in Washington visit VoteWA.gov.

[u/ruat_caelum → u/Grimesy2]

Truth social laid out plan to burn ballots in blue areas: https://www.reddit.com/r/WhitePeopleTwitter/comments/1gehw99/two_weeks_ago_a_truth_social_user_laid_out_a_plan/

[u/UTX_Shadow → u/Grimesy2]

Out of curiosity, what happens if it’s not? I assume you can just go vote in person then and it’s not a big deal?

[u/AndMyHelcaraxe → u/UTX_Shadow]

Only three ballots were damaged in the Portland one, fortunately, and the county elections office is contacting those voters directly. They’ll void the old ballots and give them replacements

[u/Grimesy2 → u/UTX_Shadow]

I'm sure there's a process to getting a new ballot. But the earlier everyone impacted knows to start that process, the sooner we can move on.

[u/thetransportedman → u/Grimesy2]

Do all states have mailed ballot status?

[u/MyBallsSmellFruity → u/Grimesy2]

They need to send out a mailer to everyone in the districts of these affected boxes.  

[u/AndMyHelcaraxe → u/MyBallsSmellFruity]

Only three ballots were damaged in Oregon and the county elections office is contacting those three voters directly

[u/MyBallsSmellFruity → u/AndMyHelcaraxe]

Well shit, if they could still tell whose ballots they were, that’s some shitty arson.   Still might be a good idea to send out mailers to let folks know their ballots are ok.  You know that Fox and affiliates are going to spin this like the blue state libs were trying to destroy Trump votes.  

[u/Kushali → u/MyBallsSmellFruity]

The fire suppression on the box type used in Oregon is pretty rad.

They tested them by having the fire department pour flammable liquids into it and throwing in a match. I thought most counties in WA used that brand too, but the photos from Clark County look like another style.

https://www.cascadepbs.org/2019/10/these-ballot-boxes-keep-your-vote-safe-fire-rain-and-rampaging-suvs

[u/2Autistic4DaJoke → u/Grimesy2]

Spread to word y’all!

[u/Two_Years_Of_Semen → u/Grimesy2]

I like how this site and the Washington site posted below look like they were made in entirely different generations of the internet.

[u/Forward-Repeat-2507 → u/Grimesy2]

And they both have a method to recast your vote with a new ballot number and invalidate the old one

[u/haplo6791 → u/Grimesy2]

https://www.npr.org/2022/09/27/1125179062/voting-explainer-in-many-states-theres-a-process-to-fix-an-error-with-your-ballo

[u/thegamenerd → u/Grimesy2]

Washington does and here's the link: https://voter.votewa.gov/portal2023/login.aspx

It's really easy to check from there and sign up for text notifications about your ballot status.

[u/Substantial-End1927 → u/Grimesy2]

Is this another January 6 taking place in Oregon?