PORTLAND, Ore. — Hundreds of ballots in Clark County in southwest Washington and a handful in Multnomah County in Oregon were damaged or destroyed in two separate ballot box fires Monday morning that police believe are connected.
The ballot box that was set on fire in Clark County was located at 3510 Southeast 164th Avenue, near the Fisher's Landing Transit Depot. The auditor in Clark County said anyone who dropped off a ballot in that box before 11 a.m. Saturday and early Monday morning may have had their ballot destroyed in the fire.
The ballot box set on fire in Multnomah County was located outside the county elections office at 1040 Southeast Morrison Street. Ballots potentially impacted would be those that were dropped off at that specific ballot drop box between 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 and 3 a.m. on Oct. 28.
Both ballot boxes were replaced later Monday.
For voters who believe the ballot they dropped off may have been damaged or destroyed in the fires, here's what they can do to make sure their vote is still counted.
Southwest Washington
The first thing for voters to do is check their ballot status online at votewa.gov.
If a returned ballot is not marked as "received," voters can print a replacement ballot or visit the elections department, located at 1408 Franklin Street in downtown Vancouver, for a replacement ballot, the secretary of state's office said.
Voters can also contact the elections division at 564-397-2345 or elections@clark.wa.gov.
Multnomah County
The damage in the Portland box was limited to just three ballots. Any voters who dropped their ballot off at the Multnomah County box on Southeast Morrison Street between 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 and at 3 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 can call 503-988-6826.
The names of the voters on the three damaged ballot envelopes were still legible, according to a county elections official, and the elections office will reach out to those three voters to get them replacement ballots. All other ballots in the box will be processed normally.
Voters in Multnomah County can sign up for the county's Track Your Ballot service at multco.us/trackyourballot. Voters across Oregon can check their ballot status at My Vote Oregon.