In Phoenix, Arizona, a U.S. Postal Service mailbox was set on fire early Thursday morning, damaging several ballots and other pieces of mail. Approximately 20 ballots were damaged, with the exact number still being determined. The fire was extinguished and the area has since been reopened. Authorities from the fire and police departments are investigating the incident, and the Postal Inspector has taken possession of the damaged mail. Surveillance footage is being reviewed by investigators. There is yet to be a motive identified for the arson attack. Federal authorities had warned of the potential for intentional damage to ballots in transit leading up to Election Day. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, expressed deep concern over the attack, calling it a deliberate act that undermines the integrity of the democratic process. He praised the quick response of the fire department and stated that fire suppression equipment has been sent to counties across the state to prevent similar incidents and protect the electoral process. NBC News contributed to the reporting of the incident.
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Phoenix USPS Mailbox Fire Causes Damage to Ballots
