Rhode Island election officials discuss ballot security after West Coast drop box fires | ABC6

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) —  The FBI is investigating after hundreds of ballots were destroyed from fires set in ballot drop boxes in Washington and Oregon on Monday.

“I can’t believe it,” Cranston poll worker Marcia Layden said. “I certainly hope that we don’t see anything like that in Rhode Island.”

Police said incendiary devices were placed in the boxes, coming up a little over a week before Election Day.

“Obviously it’s very concerning,” Cranston Director of Elections Nick Lima said. “Anytime someone decides to attack our elections infrastructure, that’s harmful to our democracy.”

The news sparked renewed concerns about election integrity, as former President Donald Trump continues to insist he won the 2020 race.

“It has a tremendous impact on election officials, poll workers, people worried about security,” Lima said. “But I can tell you we have done more to secure our elections in the last four years than what had been done in the prior 40 years.”

Officials said ballot boxes in Rhode Island are under 24-hour surveillance, seven days a week to dissuade any tampering.

“Our drop boxes are located at city and town halls in prominent locations or police stations,” Lima said. “But not only that, voters have options.”

Lima said ballots can be placed in drop boxes, election offices, or polling locations, in addition to other traditional, in-person voting options.

“It’s an isolated incident out on the West Coast, crime can happen,” Lima said. “When it does though, people are held accountable, especially when it involves our elections, it’s felonies.”

“People will be going to prison for a very long time over something like that,” he concluded.