US election thrown into chaos as hundreds of votes lost in suspicious ballot box fires

A ballot box in Vancouver, Washington, was seen alight and when officials opened the box, 'hundreds' of the ballots were on fire and were released to the ground

Hundreds of people's votes are feared to have been lost after a ballot box was seen billowing smoke early this morning, with only a few able to be saved.

Several police units rushed to the scene at Fisher's Landing Transit Center in Vancouver, Washington, and cordoned off the box as it continued to emit smoke. Around 6.30am, first responders were seen releasing several burning ballots onto the ground where they continued to smoulder and smoke even after the fires had been extinguished.

A Clark County elections auditor said hundreds of ballots were in the box at the time of the fire as they had last been collected at 8am on Sunday morning. According to KATU, only a few were salvaged.

The auditor advised those who had dropped off their ballot at the location to contact the Election Auditor's Office immediately for a replacement ballot. Greg Kimsey, Clark County Auditor said: "We're going to change our ballot retrieval process, so ballots are retrieved in the evening so there are few ballots left in the drop boxes overnight."

Earlier this month, Washington's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported a suspicious device near a ballot drop-off point on Esther Street. According to police, no one was injured and none of the ballots were damaged. There has been no official statement from the town's police or county officials yet.

However, the incident occurred hours after Portland police responded to another ballot box fire where an incendiary device had reportedly been used. The fire, which broke out around 3:30 am on the 1000 Block of Southeast Morrison Street, was extinguished by security before firefighters arrived.

An incendiary device was found and later cleared, but the PPD is still investigating. Officials have not yet commented on the status of the ballots inside. Portland Police Detective Meredith Hopper has urged anyone with information about the fire to contact her. People can also call the PFandR Fire Investigation Unit's tip line at 503-823-3473 and reference case number 24-276181.

The ballot box fire incident follows Trump's recent declaration that he intends to imprison election officials if he secures the presidency in 2024. On his Truth Social media platform, Trump made the provocative assertion on Friday, stating that he and his lawyers are closely monitoring the upcoming presidential election.

He wrote: "Cease and Desist. I, together with many attorneys and legal scholars, am watching the Sanctity of the 2024 Presidential Election very closely because I know, better than most, the rampant Cheating and Skullduggery which has taken place by the Democrats in the 2020 Presidential Election. It was a Disgrace to our Nation.