Fires set in drop boxes destroy hundreds of ballots in Washington and damage 3 in Oregon

Fires set in drop boxes destroy hundreds of ballots in Washington and damage 3 in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Incendiary devices have been set off at two ballot drop boxes — one in Portland, Oregon, and another in nearby Vancouver, Washington — in what one official called a “direct attack on democracy.” The Monday morning fire at the drop box in Portland was extinguished quickly thanks to a suppression system inside the box as well as a nearby security guard, and just three ballots were damaged there. But another fire at a transit center drop box in Vancouver destroyed hundreds of ballots. Vancouver is the biggest city in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, the site of what is expected to be one of the closest U.S. House races in the country.… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s governor approves more than $600 million in Helene recovery funding

North Carolina’s governor approves more than $600 million in Helene recovery funding

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina state legislators have approved over $600 million more toward Hurricane Helene recovery and relief. The Republican-dominated General Assembly held a one-day session Thursday to consider additional funding and legislation. Four weeks ago, Helene tore across the Southeast and wreaked havoc in western North Carolina. Lawmakers had approved a $273 million package earlier this month. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has calculated overall storm damages and needs at over $53 billion and is requesting $3.9 billion in state funds. Republican leaders said they would consider Cooper’s proposal in the weeks ahead. The legislature also enacted another measure to direct two storm-affected counties to open more early-voting sites.… Continue Reading

Postal Service reassures on mail ballots, says all centers operating in regions hit by hurricanes

Postal Service reassures on mail ballots, says all centers operating in regions hit by hurricanes

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service says it has reopened all of its mail processing centers in areas of Florida and North Carolina hit by recent hurricanes. Executive Vice President Steven Monteith gave the update during a virtual briefing Wednesday that was meant to reassure voters and election officials that the Postal Service is ready to handle mail ballots. State and local election officials said in September that problems with mail delivery threatened to disenfranchise voters in this year’s presidential election. But Monteith said during the first three weeks of October, 99.9% of the nation’s election-related mail arrived within seven days. That was even after hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the Southeast.… Continue Reading

A hurricane’s historic destruction hasn’t stopped North Carolina election workers and voters

A hurricane’s historic destruction hasn’t stopped North Carolina election workers and voters

HOT SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) — Elections officials, poll workers and voters in western North Carolina have been adapting in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s destruction. The storm destroyed roads, bridges and homes, and left communities without power and water. Despite the widespread destruction, election workers have rallied to set up polling sites and help voters cast ballots during the early voting period in the crucial presidential battleground. Turnout during last week’s first day of early in-person voting set a record, and more than 1.3 million people have cast ballots since then. Many election workers and voters in a hard-hit Democratic-leaning county and others in a Republican-leaning one expressed a gritty determination to make sure voters’ voices are heard.… Continue Reading

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