GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Election officials are ensuring the safety of ballot drop boxes in Michigan. This comes as authorities investigate two drop box fires in Oregon and Washington, one of which destroyed hundreds of ballots.
Monday, police say incendiary devices were set off at a ballot drop box in Portland, Oregon, and another in Vancouver, Washington.
As authorities figure out who may have been responsible, officials in Michigan say they keep these types of situations in mind.
“We’re always concerned about the potential of tampering or otherwise just mishandling of the drop boxes,” said Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State. “We also recognize sometimes folks might do that in one place to create a story to cause fear and make people afraid to use the drop boxes.”
In Grand Rapids, the city has 11 ballot drop boxes available and several measures are in place to keep them safe, including video monitoring.
“In Februrary, we had one hit by a snow plow so we knew right away that it got hit a snow plow, we knew about what time,” said Joel Hondorp, Grand Rapids City Clerk.
Ballots are also retrieved daily and the drop boxes are made to prevent other objects from making their way in.
“The drop box slots are designed for just a piece of mail to drop through,” Hondorp said. “It’s not like you’re pulling open something to drop in something large.”
Hondorp added that Grand Rapids police know where each drop box in the city is located.
“So they know to monitor them as well, as they’re making their rounds around the city,” Hondorp said.
Tampering with a drop box could also result in serious criminal charges.
“Serious felonies and probably state and federal crimes because of voter intimidation or voter suppression,” Hondorp explained.
So far in Grand Rapids, Hondorp said about 40% of absentee ballots for next week’s election have come through drop boxes and people should feel confident in them.
“I would still suggest using drop boxes, it’s still a safe way,” Hondorp said.
If you want to know if your absentee ballot was received by your clerk, people are encouraged to visit the online Michigan Voter Information Center.