US investigates ballot box burning as Trump presses campaign against mail-in voting

The crucial US elections are fast approaching and for millions of Americans, the die has already been cast. Until this Monday, more than 43 million citizens They voted early before the official date of November 5, either by mail or in person, in states where this possibility has already been opened.

However, some early absentee ballots may not be counted at that time. two urns ravaged by flames with hundreds of ballots. This happened this Monday morning in the states of Washington and Oregon after the recording of two arson. He FBI has already taken charge of the investigation.

In Vancouver, WashingtonHundreds of ballots were destroyed by the flames, local media shows KATU. The attack took place at 4 a.m., according to local police, who shortly after the events kidnapped a “suspicious device” located next to the urn.

Washington state officials urged voters to check the status of their ballot and request a replacement if they can’t find theirs.

“I strongly denounce any terrorist act aimed at disrupting the elections in Washington state,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said in a statement.

“Despite this incident, I have full confidence in the ability of our county’s election officials to keep Washington’s elections secure for all voters.”

This is not the only incident of this nature that occurred this Monday. A few hours earlier, the Police Portlandin the state of Oregonconfirmed a similar fire that of Vancouver, caused by a incendiary device in an urn to cause the flames. The Portland Police Explosive Disposal Unit had to appear to clear the scene.

For his part, the Multnomah County elections director warned in a statement that only three ballots were damaged and that it will contact voters to fill out replacement ballots.

Last Thursday, a man was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, after a mailbox was set on fire. Around twenty ballots were reduced to ashes, according to local media.

This series of attacks on voting booths comes a little more than a week before an election where more than 43 million citizens have already voted. by mail or in person.

Biden votes, Trump sows doubt

One of these citizens was President of the United States, Joe Bidenwho went to vote in advance this Monday in a voting center in Delawarethe state where you reside.

While the current tenant of the White House has already voted, the Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump has once again called into question the postal voting system in recent hours.

In a rally organized last Saturday in Michigan, a key state for these elections, Trump attacked mail-in voting and called it ‘ridiculous’ this method

The Republican candidate did not hesitate to spread conspiracy theories about the possibility that votes cast before Election Day would not be counted and insisted that voting in a single day, with paper ballots, is more secure.

During the Michigan vote, he also assured that if he won the election, will eliminate this method, in person and by voting by mail.

These doubts that Trump is trying to arouse are not new to the electoral campaign. He already did this during the 2020 elections, when tried to sow doubt about the cleanliness and legitimacy of the postal voting system.

Despite Trump’s criticism, since Republican Party They worked to promote early voting to increase voter turnout.