The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are currently investigating the source of suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials in over a dozen states. As of now, there have been no reports of injuries or the presence of hazardous materials in any of the packages.
Packages containing suspicious materials were recently sent to elections officials in several states, including Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, Mississippi, and Connecticut. The Mississippi authorities reported receiving a package on Monday, while the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office was alerted by the FBI about an intercepted package.
According to a statement from FBI spokesperson Kristen Setera in Boston, the agency is gathering the packages, some of which contained an unidentified substance.
“We are currently collaborating with our partners to ascertain the number of letters that were dispatched, identify the individual or individuals accountable for sending them, and understand the motive behind these actions,” she explained. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we will refrain from providing additional comments. However, rest assured that prioritizing public safety remains our utmost concern.”
Suspicious packages have been mailed to election officials in multiple states for the second time in the past year.
As early voting gets underway in various states, concerns about security have added another layer of tension to an already high-stakes election season. Local election directors are taking measures to enhance security and protect workers and polling places. Their goal is to prevent any tampering with ballots or voting procedures.
The National Association of Secretaries of State expressed their concern over a troubling increase in threats towards election workers in the lead-up to November 5. They also addressed the alarming second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
The group strongly condemned the use of political violence, threats, and intimidation, stating that such actions have no place in our democracy and must be put to an end immediately.
The FBI informed the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office on Tuesday that a suspicious envelope was delivered to a building where state offices are located. Postal service investigators were able to intercept the package. It is important to note that none of the office employees had any contact with the envelope. Currently, the FBI has possession of the envelope.
Packages were also sent to secretaries of state and election offices in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wyoming this week. This led to evacuations in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. However, hazmat crews in several states promptly confirmed that the material was harmless.
The Elections Division of the Mississippi Secretary of State has reported receiving a package that bears resemblance to the ones sent to other states. In response, the state’s Department of Homeland Security is currently conducting tests on the package. The division has also alerted county election officials to remain vigilant and be aware of any similar packages.
The material that was sent to the election office in Oklahoma was found to be flour, according to officials.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate stated that they have established specific protocols for situations like the evacuation of the six-story Lucas State Office Building in Des Moines.
According to a statement from Kansas Highway Patrol spokesperson April M. McCollum, a state office building in Topeka, Kansas had to be evacuated after receiving suspicious mail addressed to both the secretary of state and attorney general.
The Topeka Fire Department discovered a number of mail items that were contaminated with an unidentified substance, according to spokesperson Rosie Nichols. However, a field test determined that the substance was not hazardous. As a precaution, the employees who came into contact with the mail are currently being monitored.
The State Election Board in Oklahoma recently received a suspicious envelope by mail. Inside the envelope, there was a multi-page document and a white, powdery substance. After conducting tests, it was determined that the substance was actually flour, according to Misha Mohr, a spokesperson for the agency.
Workers in a state office building adjacent to the Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne were instructed to leave for the day after a white substance was delivered to the secretary of state’s office.
In November last year, several states experienced the unsettling occurrence of receiving suspicious letters in their election offices and government buildings. One of these buildings, located in Kansas, was targeted again just recently. The letters, some of which contained the dangerous substance fentanyl, caused a significant disruption in the counting of ballots during local elections.
One of the offices that was targeted is located in Fulton County, Georgia. This county happens to be the largest voting jurisdiction in one of the most crucial swing states in the country. Additionally, in Washington state, four county election offices had to be evacuated while election workers were in the process of counting the ballots that were cast. As a result, this caused a delay in the vote-counting process.
Election workers across the country were prompted to stock up on the overdose reversal medication naloxone due to the impact of the letters.
In response to the 2020 election and the false allegations of rigging, election offices throughout the United States have implemented enhanced security measures to address the rise in harassment and threats.
