Two ballot boxes that caught fire this week destroying hundreds of ballots in the Pacific Northwest, with similar cases occurring earlier this month, have raised questions about the security of the boxes ahead of the US election.
The concept of using drop boxes was widely adopted across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020 elections. However, Oregon and Washington have been using this process for a very long time.
“There is thought and effort that has gone into ensuring every method of returning ballots, no matter what,” said Tim Scott, director of elections. CNN.
“How to ballot boxes and why”
The ballot drop box is for voters to drop off completed absentee or mail-in ballots.
According to the US Election Assistance Commission, it serves as a “safe and convenient” way for voters to cast their ballots.
“These voters may be motivated by a lack of trust in the postal process, fear that their ballot may be tampered with, or concern that their signature will be revealed,” the commission explains. Voters may also be concerned about meeting the postmark deadline and ensuring their ballots are returned in time to be counted.
Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said of the hundreds of ballots destroyed by fire Monday, 60% contained ballots from ballot drop boxes, and 40% were received in the mail. More and more voters have been relying on drop boxes since 2012, according to Washington state.
After the 1998 ballot initiative, Oregon conducted its elections by mail. All registered voters receive a ballot a few days before the election and can mail it in or drop it off at a drop box.
“Actions taken to secure drop boxes”
Drop boxes are placed in specific locations such as near an election office, inside a library, or at a polling place, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
Drop boxes can be temporary or permanent structures and staffed or unstaffed. The committee guarantees the safety of the funds.
The committee recommended that several efforts be made such as providing a video surveillance camera, a media storage device, a branding and information sticker, additional access keys and security seals to ensure the safety of ballot boxes. Countries have various rules to ensure the safety of trusts.
“How Oregon secures its funds”
Oregon uses one of the most effective methods, a fire suppression system, and only three ballots out of 412 inside the box were damaged following the incident.
“It worked exactly as it was supposed to work,” Scott said. “As soon as there was heat, I emptied the contents and extinguished the flames immediately.”
“It’s not something that someone can just unscrew a few screws, grab and run away with,” Larry Olson, vice president of Laserfab, told CNN.
“It’s important for every election jurisdiction to put a lot of thought into where they put their drop boxes, how they message voters about how to use those drop boxes, and from my perspective, for Multnomah County, I feel like all the security procedures are in order,” Scott said. Our actions have already paid off in this incident.
“Extensive drop box policy”
During the 2020 elections, former President Donald Trump criticized this entire process and described it as a fraud because it facilitated election fraud. In all, 11 states have abandoned the idea of using drop boxes, and all of them leaned toward Trump in the 2020 election.
Their use in swing states has been critically analyzed through intermittent implementation cases, as these states hold the key to the White House for both major parties.
in CNN After receiving an intelligence bulletin, the agencies reported that some domestic violent extremists may be targeting ballot boxes.