Suspicious mail has prompted evacuations at election offices and a U.S. Senate office before the Nov. 3 midterms, disrupting public services as federal investigators examine reports from across the country.
Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) are investigating letters sent to election offices, including one intercepted before delivery. WIRED's Oct. 19 review found that election offices in at least 32 states were targeted with similar letters, many of which were intercepted before delivery. WIRED said the bureau would not disclose its count of identified letters or say whether the investigation had produced leads. The developments continue EconoTimes' earlier coverage of suspicious mail sent to election offices and Senate Democrats.
Oklahoma's State Election Board said it cleared its building on the morning of Oct. 13 after an envelope with suspicious white powder arrived. The board said no staff members were harmed. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said postal investigators stopped a mailing with a powder-like substance before it reached his office. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, said staff left his Sioux Falls office on Oct. 16 and kept it closed through the day after recognizing a letter flagged in an earlier warning. They had not opened it.
In Delaware, an employee opened an envelope with white powder on Oct. 15, leading officials to evacuate the office and shut down its heating and cooling system. The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Public Health reported that its first round of checks found no dangerous material; further testing remained underway. Delaware routed public services through its Kent County elections location during the precautionary closure of the State Election Commissioner's Office. The division expected final laboratory findings by Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said election officials keep law enforcement and security partners involved and maintain response plans to protect essential election work. Delaware said it remained on track to open early voting Thursday, Oct. 22.
