PORTLAND, Ore. — Recent fires at ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington have sparked significant worries about voter safety and the integrity of the electoral process. In response, we spoke with local election officials in West Michigan to discuss the ramifications of these troubling events.
Local election authorities are on alert following reports of two ballot boxes being set ablaze in Oregon and Washington, which resulted in the destruction of hundreds of ballots. Authorities in Portland have made it clear that such incidents will not be tolerated.
Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan from the Portland Police Department commented on the deliberate nature of these acts:
"Acts like this are targeted and they are intentional. And we're concerned about that intentional act trying to effect the election process. We're dedicated to stopping that kind of behavior and we are working toward that today," said McMillan.
Although similar incidents have not been reported in Michigan, Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp reassured residents that his office is closely monitoring the situation.
"Grand Rapids Police Department and our emergency manager are aware of the situation, so we're monitoring everything that happens around the country," Hondorp explained.
To enhance security, Grand Rapids has installed cameras at nearly all drop box locations, with just one exception. Hondorp did not specify which location that was.
If you have cast your absentee ballot using a drop box, it's essential to confirm that it has been received and counted. Hondorp recommends that voters take proactive steps.
"Go to michigan.gov/vote where you can see where your early voting site is, where you track your absentee ballot," he said.
Voters can also sign up for notifications to ensure their ballots are properly accounted for.
Investigators in Oregon believe the ballot box fires may be interconnected.
