Vancouver couple recasts votes after ballots destroyed in Washington drop box arson

A Vancouver couple wanted to be “responsible” and cast their vote early, but the ballots were burned early Monday morning. They said they’re still confident in the voting system and plan to drop off her ballot at the same location.

Early Monday morning an incendiary device was placed in two drop boxes, one in Washington and a second in Oregon. Most of the ballots in Portland survived, but hundreds of ballots were destroyed at the Vancouver location.

Another incendiary device was also found at a different Vancouver drop-box back on Oct. 8. No ballots were damaged. The FBI is investigating the incidents and believe all three are related.

Stephanie Stutesman and her husband Ryan filled out their ballots Sunday night.

“We had time to sit down and research, do our stuff on our ballot, and we went and dropped it off," Stutesman said. "Nothing suspicious, just like it always is every year that I've been voting.”

They dropped off their ballots at the location Fisher’s Landing, a transit center in Vancouver.

The next morning, Ryan turned on the news and saw a ballot drop box on fire.

“He asked, ‘Isn't that where we just dropped off our ballots last night?’" Stephanie Stutesman said. "I said, ‘That is indeed where we just dropped off our ballots last night.'”

Stutesman reached out to the Clark County Elections office to find out how to get a replacement ballot.

What to do if you need a new ballot

If you dropped off your ballot at the Fisher’s Landing location between 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 and 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28, your ballot might be impacted.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said voters should start by tracking their ballot online or calling the elections office. If your ballot hasn’t been received, get a new one.

You can get a replacement by printing out a new ballot and affidavit envelope, requesting a new ballot be sent by mail, or by picking up a new ballot at the elections office.

If you send in two ballots by mistake, Kimsey said your vote will only be counted once. Only your first ballot will be processed.

Stephanie Stutesman said the online process was “pretty easy for somebody who knows how to navigate the internet.” But she is worried about people who are not technologically savvy. She said she hopes that the “unfortunate circumstances” don’t deter people from voting.

The Stutesmans already filled out their replacement ballots and plan to drop them off at the same drop-box location.

Vancouver area officials are increasing security and picking up ballots more often in the wake of the arson attack.

The FBI has identified a suspect vehicle. It is described as “a black or dark-colored 2001-04 Volvo S-60.”