As the 47th U.S. presidential election, which is approaching on the 8th, continues to be extremely close, a fire presumed to be arson broke out at a ballot box in some areas.

According to CNN on the 28th (local time), at around 3:30 a.m. on this day, a fire broke out at two ballot boxes in Portland, Oregon, in the western United States, and authorities began an investigation.

A security guard discovered this and put out the fire, but three ballots were damaged.

The police who arrived after receiving the report confirmed that an ‘incendiary device’ had been installed in the ballot box.

Police are investigating the possibility of arson after capturing images of a vehicle stopping at a ballot box on closed-circuit television.

On this day, a fire broke out in a ballot box at a transit center in Vancouver, Washington. Hundreds of ballot papers were damaged here. A ‘suspicious device’ that caught fire was also found here.

In Vancouver, a ballot box was previously set on fire on the 8th.

Washington and Oregon both vote by mail. Voters receive their ballots a few weeks before Election Day and either mail them back or place them in ballot boxes located throughout the country.

The National Election Commission plans to use the unique identification number on the ballot envelope to allow voters whose ballots have been damaged to vote again.

“We will never tolerate threats or acts of violence aimed at undermining the democratic process,” said Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.

Last week in Phoenix, a mailbox next to the post office caught fire and some ballots inside were damaged. Police charged a 35-year-old man in connection with the incident. However, the police said it was not politically motivated.

Seulgi Lee, Hankyung.com reporter seulkee@hankyung.com