FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
A series of attacks on ballot boxes in several states is increasing pressure on state and local officials who hope to oversee a safe and peaceful election process, both in early voting taking place across much of the country and on election day, when millions of Americans head to the polls.
Northwest Washington state confirmed to VOA on Monday that local police and the FBI are investigating reports that an "incendiary device" was placed in a ballot box in Vancouver, Washington, early Monday.
We are talking about special boxes where mailed votes are cast, within the early voting process.
Officials said there were no injuries, but some of the ballots were damaged. In videos broadcast by local media, firefighters were seen at the scene, while some of the ballots were burning on the ground.
Earlier Monday, officials in the Oregon city of Portland announced that an incendiary device had been placed in one of the ballot boxes. Thanks to an anti-fire mechanism, it was possible to avoid massive damage to the ballot papers. Only three of them were injured.
"An attack on the ballot box is an attack on our democracy and is completely unacceptable," Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade said in a statement. Even the Secretary of State of Washington condemned the cases.
"I strongly condemn any act of terror aimed at disrupting a legitimate and fair election in the state of Washington," said Steve Hobbs. "We will not tolerate threats or acts of violence that aim to undermine the democratic process."
The attacks on ballot boxes in Washington and Oregon follow last week's attack on a ballot box in Phoenix, Arizona, in the southwest of the country. Officials there arrested a suspect for setting the fire that damaged about 20 ballots.
The attacks on mailboxes and ballot boxes come as US security officials are issuing fresh warnings of possible election-related violence by US-based extremists.
"We expect violent extremists to pose the greatest physical threat to government officials, voters, and election-related personnel and infrastructure ," the Department of Homeland Security said in an assessment released in late September.
According to this assessment, possible targets could be "voting centers, special centers for casting votes sent by mail, voter registration centers, areas where election rallies are held, political party headquarters and vote counting centers." .
The Department of Homeland Security warned that the biggest threat is likely to come from "domestic violent anti-government and lawless extremists, many of whom may be inspired by conspiracy theories or partisan charges."
The Department of Homeland Security has also stepped up warnings with a series of letters sent to law enforcement agencies across the country, some of which were provided by Owned by the People, an organization that says it is "dedicated to seeking transparency from the government".
Some of the documents seen by VOA cite increased calls on social media to attack the ballot boxes, as well as growing calls for civil war, following the July assassination of the former president and Republican presidential candidate. , Donald Trump.
"The United States faces a growing threat environment, and we continue to share information with law enforcement partners about the threat posed by domestic violent extremists in the run-up to the 2024 election," a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the Department of Homeland Security. America when asked about these documents. "The Department of Homeland Security continues to collaborate with partners to assess and limit new risks that may come from local and foreign actors," added the spokesperson. "The department continues to advise federal, state and local partners to be vigilant against any potential threats and encourages citizens to report any suspicious acts to local authorities," he underlined.
While U.S. security officials believe the greatest risk of violence may come from anti-government extremists based in the United States, U.S. intelligence officials have raised concerns that adversaries such as Iran and Russia could also push them to carry out attacks. .
A classified 'unclassified' US intelligence assessment released last week warned that officials are "increasingly certain" that Russia is beginning to engage in plans "intended to incite violence".
Also, it was said that Iran "may try to incite violence"./ VOA
Lini një Përgjigje