Voters give their points of view from county drop boxes

There is a new Official Ballot Drop Box at Fisher’s Landing, and on Tuesday, it was being protected by a Vancouver Police Department officer. Unseen: An observer working for Clark County Elections Office was also there. This was the site of a crime early Monday morning when another drop box was damaged by fire, a fire that destroyed or damaged many ballots. Photo by Paul Valencia

Voters share their concerns or lack of concerns about dropping their ballots off at official drop boxes throughout Clark County after one drop box in Vancouver was damaged by fire

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

A woman in Battle Ground took a picture of the ballots she dropped off at the Official Ballot Drop Box. She wanted proof that she and her family voted.

“I’m not feeling secure. I’m really nervous,” Candyce Humphrey said.

In east Vancouver, a voter named Steve said “No, God no,” when asked if he trusts vote-by-mail.

At Clark College, three different voters said they believe the drop box on campus is safe.

The drop box at Clark College is one of 22 drop boxes in Clark County. Photo by Paul Valencia

And at the 99th Street Transit Center in Vancouver, one voter said he was not going to allow “idiots” to dictate his voting habits.

Clark County Today visited five Official Ballot Drop Boxes throughout the county on Tuesday, trying to get reaction from voters a day after news broke that one drop box in Vancouver was set on fire early Monday morning. Video shows a number of ballots were destroyed or damaged.

In response to the incident, the Clark County Elections Office announced that the 22 drop boxes in the county will have increased patrols and observers will be there 24 hours a day until the election is finished.

At Clark College, a member of the college’s Safety/Security Department advised this reporter to remain at least 25 feet away from the drop box. The security officer arrived just moments after the reporter, showing that the drop box was under observation. There were reports that Vancouver Police vehicles were making passes in the nearby parking lot. Also, there is a camera directed at the drop box.

At the 99th Street Transit Center, this reporter noticed and then talked to the observer — off the record — who was hired to watch for any suspicious activity at or near the drop box.

The drop box at 99th Street Transit Center in Vancouver is one of 22 official drop boxes for ballots in Clark County. Photo by Paul Valencia

In Battle Ground, this reporter did not see any law enforcement nor any observers at the official drop box. That does not mean there was not an observer. Just one that could not be found. This drop box is located at the post office, so it is also possible that there is a camera focused on the drop box.

No one dropped a ballot off in the 15 minutes this reporter was at the drop box in Hockinson. There was no noticeable observer and no law enforcement presence. Again, this does not mean an observer was not there. Just unseen.

Then Clark County Today headed to the scene of Monday’s crime: The drop box at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center in east Vancouver. There, a Vancouver Police Department officer was sitting in his vehicle, less than 100 yards away from the drop box. And there was an observer hired by the elections office within 10 steps of the drop box.

Eric Miller of Vancouver rode his bicycle to Fisher’s Landing to deliver his ballot in the late afternoon Tuesday.

“I thought twice about it,” he said, knowing this was the location of the crime.

There is a new drop box. The box that was burned is now a piece of evidence in what is a federal investigation.

“I did look to see that they are collecting at 5:30, so I wanted to get it in before that. I didn’t want it to sit overnight,” Miller said.

He added that he still feels more confident using the big, red drop boxes than just dropping his ballot off in the mail.

Nothing was going to keep him from voting, though.

“To participate in democracy, to have my voice heard,” Miller said. “It’s probably not a perfect democracy or a perfect system, but it’s the best I can do.”

He appreciated that the drop box was being protected by law enforcement. He said he doubts anything like what happened early Monday morning will happen again, but it is always good to be safe.

The Battle Ground drop box is located at the post office in Battle Ground. Photo by Paul Valencia

Elijah Bunn, 19, is a student at Clark College. He was moved to vote because of the race for the presidency.

He said he believes his ballot is “probably safe” at the Clark College drop box.

“I highly doubt another one will get burned,” he said.

Another student, Joel Godina, dropped off his ballot. An 18-year-old, it was Godina’s first time voting.

“It’s a big stepping stone for me,” Godina said. “I’m taking all these classes. I’m learning more and more about political stuff. This is definitely a great experience.”

He had heard about what happened at Fisher’s Landing, but he said this drop box on campus “should be protected” so he was confident his ballot would be in good hands.

Another student dropped off her ballot and took a picture or video of the moment.

Mark Moore, 33, is not a student, but he lives nearby so he brought his ballot to the campus.

“It’s a little interesting to see those things happened here,” Moore said of the fires in the drop boxes in Vancouver and Portland. “It was national news. It’s pretty alarming, but I feel safe using this box.”

Moore has been voting since he was 18.

“I think it makes a difference. I feel we are very divided at this moment,” Moore said. “Every vote is going to count, depending on which side you are voting on.”

Patrick Leonard of Vancouver dropped his ballot off at the 99th Street Transit Center. He said he still thinks the drop boxes are safe.

“There are idiots everywhere,” he said.

But those idiots cannot dissuade him from voting.

This is the Hockinson drop box, one of 22 drop boxes in Clark County. Photo by Paul Valencia

In Battle Ground, Humphrey said she did not know if there was a place she could drop her ballots off in a more secure place. So she took pictures of the ballots that she delivered — her ballot plus ballots for her husband, two adult children, and a grandmother.

Years ago when she moved from Texas to Battle Ground, she could not believe Washington was a vote-by-mail state.

“I was in shock when I was told we get ballots in the mail. I’m not in the service. Why would I mail my ballot in?” she said.

It has always been her opinion that vote-by-mail is not as secure at traditional, vote-at-the-polls elections. What happened in Vancouver and Portland earlier this week did not help ease any of her concerns.

Still, this is the way to vote in Washington, and she said she has to have her voice heard.

“We have to do it,” she said.

Voting information

Ballots are due on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, by 8 p.m. Voters can mail ballots via USPS in the postage-paid envelope that came with their ballots. Voters also can drop their ballots in ballot boxes throughout the county. A list of locations is available on the Elections website clarkvotes.org.

Ballots deposited in drop boxes by 5:30 p.m. are picked up by elections workers and brought back to the Elections Office on the same day.

Voters also can take their ballots directly to the Elections Office at 1408 Franklin St. The elections office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and will be open Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Elections Office is open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Find more information on the Elections website, clarkvotes.org.