CONNECTICUT, USA — Connecticut will be distributing fire suppressors to each town to protect absentee ballot drop boxes, the Office of the Secretary of the State, or SOTS, said Thursday.
The action comes after recent reports of ballot box arsons in Oregon and Washington state. SOTS said that current assessments indicate the threat is localized to the incidents in both states, but that Connecticut is taking a "proactive measure" to ensure "every vote is safe and secure."
According to SOTS, the fire suppressors can be easily mounted and installed inside the absentee ballot boxes to offer an extra layer of protection.
They will be distributed as part of a collaboration between SOTS Stephanie Thomas and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or DESPP.
“Safeguarding our elections is a top priority. By staying ahead of potential threats, we can take a strong stand, ensuring a safe and secure process for all. Every voter should have confidence in casting their ballot no matter if it’s in person or at a drop box,” Thomas said. “I would like to thank DESPP for being such a supportive partner in keeping Connecticut voters and elections secure. Our strong partnership enabled a quick turnaround in getting these deployed.”
A suppression system inside of a drop box in Portland helped extinguish a fire that left only three ballots damaged, according to the Associated Press. A burned ballot box in Oregon also had a suppression system, but for unknown reasons, it allegedly failed to prevent hundreds of ballots from being damaged.
The suppression systems in Portland and Washington were designed to activate when the temperature rose to a certain point and then coat the ballots with a "fire-suppressing powder," the AP said.
SOTS also noted record voter engagement in the state, with over 520,000 voters having participated in early voting. Residents can continue voting through the weekend with polls open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Any voters who see anything suspicious around polling locations or on social media should contact the hotline of the State Elections Enforcement Commission, or SEEC, at 1-866-733-2463.
Sean Humphrey is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at shumphrey@fox61.com
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