Ballot drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, in the United States, were set on fire just about a week from the presidential election.
Authorities believed the fire incidents were connected to an October 8 incident when an incendiary device was placed at a different ballot drop box in Vancouver.
The cities’ police departments said an identical Volvo was spotted at both scenes, adding that the use of an “incendiary device” in Portland was “similar in nature” to what occurred in Vancouver.
Hundreds of ballots were reported destroyed, while the police described the act as targeted and intentional.
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The attack comes as millions of citizens cast early votes ahead of the tightly contested polls. Earlier, authorities pegged the votes cast at nearly 42 million.
Washington and Oregon are both vote-by-mail states.
Steve Hobbs, Washington secretary of state, said threats or acts of violence meant to derail voting would not be tolerated.
“I strongly denounce any acts of terror that aim to disrupt lawful and fair elections in Washington state,” Hobbs said.
Voters were encouraged to check their ballot status online to track its return status.
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If a returned ballot is not marked as “received”, voters can print a replacement ballot or visit their local elections department for a replacement, the secretary of state’s office said.
Registered voters receive their ballots in the mail a few weeks before elections and then return them by mail or by placing them in ballot drop boxes.
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