VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV) – Newly released security camera footage shows the arson at the polls in Vancouver.

Last week, a driver set fire to a ballot box at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center. Hundreds of ballots were destroyed.

In the video, a dark vehicle drives up to the polls, sticks a device to the outside of the ballot box and drives away. Moments later there is an explosion.

Law enforcement authorities told FOX 12 on Oct. 28 that they believe the arson in Vancouver was linked to a similar ballot box explosion in Portland.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey called it “a direct attack on democracy.”

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Dozens of voters lined up at the Clark County elections office Monday evening. Some were there to replace damaged ballots, while others said they wanted to return their ballots directly to the office because of security concerns after the arsons.

“We don’t want to put it in a ballot box because we don’t really feel like it’s very safe there,” one voter said.

“Ideally I didn’t want my vote to be burned,” said another voter.

Kimsey said last week’s arson isn’t stopping people from casting their votes.

“The number of people dropping off ballots at the polls was higher than four years ago, the same period during the presidential election,” Kimsey said.

“I just think people said, ‘You know what, you’re not going to go along with our way of voting,’” Kimsey said.

The Clark County Elections Office encourages all voters to check the status of their ballot online and obtain a replacement ballot if necessary.

Polls in Washington close Tuesday at 8 p.m.

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