Last month, a series of arson attempts on four ballot boxes were reported in three states on the West Coast. The first incident occurred on October 8 in Vancouver, Washington, when a suspicious object began to produce smoke near a ballot drop box. A bomb disposal unit swiftly removed the object, triggering further incidents of similar nature.
Subsequently, on October 24, a USPS mailbox in Phoenix, Arizona, containing 20 ballots, fell prey to an arson attack. This act of vandalism occurred during a critical period, as Arizona is one of the pivotal swing states in the nation. Notably, another case of arson in Portland, Oregon, followed on October 28. Shortly after this attack, a similar act was reported at a different drop box less than 15 miles away in Vancouver.
These occurrences of arson resulted in considerable destruction of ballots, affecting hundreds of voters across Washington and Oregon. Speculatively, several anonymous reports have surfaced in The New York Times and ABC News suggesting that pro-Palestinian messages were found on all suspected arson devices in the Pacific Northwest, though this has yet to be confirmed.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre spoke out against these incidents during a news briefing on October 30. She declared, ‘This is simply unacceptable. Every eligible American citizen should be able to exercise their right to vote without this kind of threat.’ However, the FBI has not formally classified these incidents as acts of domestic terrorism yet.
It’s significant to note that damaging a blue USPS collection box constitutes a federal crime. Perpetrators found guilty of such destruction could potentially be subjected to imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000. Moreover, the consequences for voter fraud vary by state, encompassing serious penalties such as felony charges, up to five years in prison, and several thousands of dollars in fines.
As per the California Election Code § 18564.5 effective from January 2023, the state’s secretary, attorney general, or any local election official may file civil actions against those committing voter fraud at any stage of the election. Such fraudulent activities include meddling with or attempting to disrupt the correct operation of any voting apparatus or ballot-related software.
In the state of California, these violations can lead to a hefty civil penalty of up to $50,000 per incident and potential injunctions where justified. Moreover, both the United States Postal Inspection Service and The Secretary of State can initiate criminal action against individuals involved in tampering with mail or ballot boxes.
The popularity of ballot box drop-off centers soared during the COVID-19 pandemic due to social distancing measures. These centers had sporadic usage before 2020. In a survey by the Associated Press, drop boxes in the 2020 general election were found to be largely free of significant problems.
However, the defeat of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump triggered numerous allegations of voter fraud tied to ballot drop boxes. It was during this time that some of the first substantial accounts of tampering emerged. Notably, a ballot station in Baldwin Park, California, was set alight in 2020, marking one of two incidents reported during that presidential campaign.
In this California incident, firefighters needed to cut the ballot box open to put out the fire, but not before the destruction of 230 ballots. In another event, a Boston man, 39-year-old Worldy Armand, was apprehended and charged for setting alight a ballot drop-box in Boston. His actions resulted in the burning of 120 ballots.
Throughout this chaotic period, then-president Donald Trump repeatedly pushed the narrative of voter fraud. On April 11, 2020, he tweeted, ‘Mail-in ballots significantly increase the risk of crime and VOTER FRAUD!’ He further asserted in a June 2020 tweet, ‘Mail-in Voting…will result in the most corrupt election in USA history.’
Trump has continued to sow doubts about the security of the ballot boxes this year too. In one statement, he referred to incidents in Pennsylvania, calling out thousands of possibly fraudulent voter registration forms and mail-in ballot applications associated with a third-party group.
In addition to domestic issues of ballot tampering, concerns of foreign interference in the upcoming 2024 presidential election have also been raised. Recent reports from November 1 suggest that Russia may once again be attempting to meddle in the U.S. election, fueling further conspiracy theories about election fraud.
Reacting to these incidents, the affected states and other key battleground regions are reinforcing their ballot security measures. Authorities in Vancouver have reassured the public, stating that the security of the ballots has been enhanced via increased law enforcement presence and continual monitoring of all 22 ballot boxes in Clark County.
In Pennsylvania, Luzerne County has taken the step of installing bulletproof glass in its Elections Bureau office. Similarly, several counties in California, such as Orange County and San Diego, have publicly promised to ensure voter safety. The San Diego sheriff stated in a written notice, ‘At present, we have no substantial threats to our communities. However, we are equipped to manage any situation that arises.’