US Election Diary: Ballots set on fire, tight security

I’m writing this sitting in a hotel in the heart of Bethlehem. Not the Bethlehem you’re probably thinking of – this is a small city in Pennsylvania in Northampton County, where the outcome here could affect the overall nationwide result. No three wise men here – just a lot of campaign signs and doorknockers. Here’s the latest overnight news from the campaign trail.

Authorities have been left shocked by the arson of mail-in ballot boxes in several parts of the country.

There was one in Portland, Oregon, where three ballots were damaged, and fire suppressant built inside the box protected the rest.

The same day, another box in Vancouver, Washington was set on fire – hundreds of ballots were damaged there.

"The majority of the ballots are completely destroyed, and the remaining ballots are severely damaged and very, very wet," Clark County auditor Greg Kimsey told NPR.

"It's heartbreaking. It's a direct attack on democracy."

Conspiracy theories around the integrity of mail-in ballots have spread far and wide this election cycle.

Later this week, I will speak with a United Postal Service boss about this issue.

Follow all the latest from the US Election with 1News.co.nz and watch in-depth coverage on TVNZ+

While the polls have the candidates neck-and-neck in Pennsylvania, a state that could ultimately decide who wins, other metrics are looking promising for Donald Trump and the Republican party.

Most elections, Democrats dominate early voting numbers, with Republicans usually waiting until election day.

But according to an analysis in The Telegraph, there has been a surge of Republicans voting early and that gap is closing.

That’s potentially a concern for Kamala Harris’ campaign, as Democratic volunteers have been working in overdrive to knock on doors and get people out to vote.

I’ve spent a decent amount of time now speaking to volunteers for both the Republicans and Democrats, and a lot of people have quietly told me there have been security concerns ahead of their canvassing and door-knocking efforts.

One person I spoke to in Bethlehem yesterday told me that volunteers she knew had been intimidated and there had been damage done to a local campaign HQ.

An organiser this week told me they had security concerns for the teams of volunteers they were sending out and had done a lot of work to mitigate risk.

When I joined the Republicans Against Trump bus tour for a small leg, there were security staff contracted to protect those parts of the group. Just like every single election-related event I’d attended, my bag was searched before boarding.

I walked past Trump Tower recently in New York City and you used to able to freely wander in and out of the main building. Now you have to go through TSA-level security.

It speaks to how tense the atmosphere is here in the final days of this presidential race.

Yesterday, I wrote about how the election result could take some time to become known if no side has an overwhelming lead on the other. But today someone asked the obvious follow up question – what if there is a tie?

While very unlikely, it is theoretically possible for both candidates to receive the same number of electoral college votes – 269 each.

The US Constitution has a pretty clear guide as to what happens next – the US House of Representatives would then hold a vote, and the candidate who wins that would become president.

This scenario, however, has never happened in modern political history.

Although one thing I’ve learnt about working in America is to never say never...

See you later on 1News at 6 and TVNZ+.