Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ballot Collection Box Targeted By Arsonist, FBI Investigating

A ballot collection box in Boston, Massachusetts appears to have been intentionally set ablaze, rendering nearly 40 ballots contained inside unable to be counted in the election.

The case is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to local reports:

The Boston Elections Department notified Galvin’s office that the fire was set at about 4 a.m. in the ballot drop box outside of the Boston Public Library’s main branch in Copley Square.

Boston police said officers responded at 4:11 a.m. to the area of 700 Boylston St., which is the location of the library’s main branch. When they arrived at the scene, the officers saw Boston firefighters tending to smoke coming from the ballot box.

The ballot box appeared to be on fire, but firefighters were unable to determine if the fire was burning on the inside, according to police. Crews were eventually able to extinguish the fire by filling the box with water.

When the drop box was emptied Sunday morning, 87 of the 122 ballots inside were legible and able to be processed. The last time the box had been emptied prior to the fire was just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Galvin told NewsCenter 5’s Julie Loncich that it appears a sophisticated incendiary device was used to start the fire, as the damage to the interior plastic lining of the ballot drop box was severe.

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