American elections amid challenges caused by storms and burning ballot boxes

2024-11-01 19:45:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Law enforcement agencies are searching for people who set fire to two ballot boxes Monday in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, burning hundreds of ballots. After warnings from local police about the possibility of further attacks, some residents went to polling stations to cast their ballots.

Bre Belter, a resident of Vancouver, Washington, told VOA that she went to the polling station to make sure of her vote.

"There's a reason postal voting exists, but now I'm worried about my vote getting to its destination. It is a right and a duty to vote. Burning the ballot boxes destroyed the right of those voters."

Robert Moore is among those whose ballots were burned at the ballot box in Vancouver. He says he intends to vote again, but after the incident he questions what happens next.

"Who sets fire to the ballot boxes? I think they are trying to create the conditions for civil unrest in the country."

As security measures are heightened, election officials in Washington's Clark County are making sure affected voters receive new ballots.

"Now, every evening we collect votes from ballot boxes on the street. We ask people to drop off the ballot envelope before 9:30 p.m. "Law enforcement has increased their presence in the areas where the ballot boxes are located," said Clark County Clerk Greg Kimsey.

During his 26 years as Clark County Auditor and two decades of experience with the ballot boxes, Mr. Kimsey says it never occurred to him that one day he would see ballot boxes burning.

"I worry you. A direct attack on democracy. I think that those who saw this are more motivated to vote because we will not allow evildoers to influence this process."

Meanwhile in the battleground state of North Carolina, voters and election officials face challenges caused by massive flooding from Hurricane Helene, including the loss of identification documents needed to vote.

VOA spoke with Buncombe County Precinct Member Ruth Hall.

"One voter did not have his identity card as his house was flooded. We have a special form for provisional voting. In such cases, they know that their vote will be counted."

With tens of thousands of residents displaced and some polling places closed or relocated, officials urged North Carolinians to participate in early voting. About 40% of registered residents voted.

Paul Choy is one of those who participated in early voting in Asheville, North Carolina.

"For us, affected by the hurricane, who have to rebuild and for many people displaced by the natural disaster, voting is even more important."

While polls point to an extremely close race in North Carolina, Mr. Choi and many other voters understand the importance of getting out the polls./ VOA