FBI offers $25,000 reward for information on ballot box fires in Washington and Oregon

The FBI is offering up to $25,000 in exchange for information about the suspect they believe set fire to several ballot boxes in the Pacific Northwest during early voting last month.

The FBI is offering up to $25,000 in exchange for information about the suspect they believe set fire to several ballot boxes in the Pacific Northwest during early voting last month. Hundreds of ballots were destroyed or damaged across three fires reported at drop boxes in Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon – both states where most people vote by mail or ballot drop off instead of in-person. The first incident occurred on October 8 in Vancouver, just across the Columbia River from Portland, when a ballot box was set on fire between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. local time, the FBI said. Then, on October 28, “improvised incendiary devices” were placed on ballot drop boxes in Vancouver and Portland between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. local time, the FBI said. On Wednesday, the FBI released surveillance video from October 28, showing an individual driving up to a Portland ballot box. The person appeared to light an item and place it on the ballot box before driving away. The video shows smoke beginning to rise from the side of the box, then an eruption of sparks and flames is seen. Authorities believe the same suspect is responsible for all three fires.