FBI investigates ballot box arson in Vancouver, Washington

It would be wrong to point the finger without evidence at Republican Joe Kent or his supporters just because he espouses far-right, white nationalist positions and hires neo-fascists. Proud boys for his staff. It would be wrong to conclude without evidence that just because he is a Nazi and this is Nazi-like behavior that he or his supporters had anything to do with the recent arson. We should never draw such conclusions. Right?

Source: KATU, Vancouver, Washington

VANCOUVER, Wash. — A ballot box in Vancouver was burned in an arson attack Monday morning, authorities said — with hundreds of ballots possibly damaged by the fire.

KATU responded to the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center in Vancouver shortly after 4 a.m., where heavy smoke was coming from a ballot box.

Our photographer Evan Bell captured the gray smoke steadily pouring out of the Park and Ride ballot box at the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center near Southeast 162nd Avenue.

There were several police units in the area and the ballot box was cordoned off with police tape because it continued to smoke.

Around 6 a.m., KATU captured footage of first responders dropping a pile of actively burning ballots to the ground, which continued to smolder and smoke heavily even after the flames were extinguished.

The Clark County Election Auditor told us the last round of voting at that location was at 11 a.m. Saturday. There were hundreds of ballots inside at the time of the fire, and KATU was told only a few might be salvageable.