Two ballot boxes set on fire near Portland, Oregon, leaving hundreds of ballots damaged

Two ballot boxes were set on fire in Portland, Oregon, on Monday morning, authorities said.

Officials said hundreds of ballots were likely damaged in the fires in southeast Portland and the northern suburbs of Vancouver, Washington, local NBC affiliate KGW reported.

Photos from both scenes There appeared to be small holes visible in the boxes where incendiary devices may have been inserted. No suspects were immediately identified or arrested.

Portland Police noticed the first fire Around 3:30 a.m. at the ballot box on SE Morrison St., according to a press release. By the time police arrived, security personnel on site had already extinguished the fire.

“Officers determined that an incendiary device was placed in the ballot box and was used to set the fire,” police said. Portland Police Department says the press release. The police explosives unit located the device and defused it.

About three hours later A. A fire was spotted in a box at the Fishers Transit Depot. in Vancouver, local ABC affiliate KATU reported.

The county auditor said hundreds of ballots may have been damaged because the last time ballots were removed from the box was around 11 a.m. Saturday, according to KGW.

Both fires started just over a week before Election Day on November 5th. Early voting has begun in many states People across the country dropped off ballots in their communities last week.

Portland and Vancouver in the 2020 presidential election, an overwhelming majority voted for Joe Biden over Donald Trump.Cities in the Pacific Northwest are well known for supporting Democratic candidates over Republican ones.

Also on Monday morning, US intelligence agencies warned that domestic extremists inspired by conspiracy theories are the biggest threat to the elections.