In a shocking turn of events, multiple ballot drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and nearby Vancouver, Washington, were set on fire, destroying hundreds of votes.
The incidents have ignited a wave of reactions on social media, with many Nigerians drawing parallels between the chaos in the U.S. and election issues back home.
The Portland Police Bureau reported that firefighters responded to a blaze in a ballot drop box around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Investigators determined that an incendiary device had been placed inside, but thanks to a fire suppression system, most of the ballots remained intact.
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Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott confirmed only three ballots were damaged, and the office plans to reach out to those affected for replacements.
Hours later, footage from Vancouver showed smoke billowing from a ballot box at a transit center, where hundreds of ballots were lost.
Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey expressed his heartbreak, calling the incident “a direct attack on democracy.”
Surveillance cameras captured the scene, and Kimsey emphasized that ballot collection will be intensified to prevent future incidents.
Earlier in the month, another incendiary device was discovered near a ballot drop box in downtown Vancouver, although it caused no damage. The FBI is currently investigating these incidents.
Both Washington and Oregon are vote-by-mail states, where registered voters receive ballots weeks before the elections and can return them via mail or drop boxes.
Below are a series of how people reacted on X.
These recent attacks raise concerns about the integrity and security of the electoral process.
As the situation unfolds, social media reactions have been swift, with many Nigerians commenting that the U.S. elections are beginning to mirror the turmoil often seen in Nigerian elections.
You can watch the video below:
