Election officials in six states received suspicious powder packages on Monday, though no hazardous materials have been confirmed in any of the cases.
The packages, which contained white powder, were sent to secretaries of state and election offices in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wyoming, and Oklahoma.
Both the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service are investigating the incidents, marking the second time in a year that election officials across multiple states have been targeted by suspicious mail.
With early voting underway in some states, the timing of the scare comes less than two months before crucial elections for president, Senate, and Congress.
The Oklahoma State Election Board Office inside the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, was one of at least five states in the U.S. which election officials received suspicious packages on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.
AP/Sean Murphy
Officials in several states reported finding a white powdery substance in the envelopes, though initial tests have indicated that the material was nonhazardous.
The situation prompted evacuations in some areas, including the six-story Lucas State Office Building in Des Moines, Iowa, where hazmat teams determined that the substance was not harmful.
“We have specific protocols in place for situations such as this,” said Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, adding that the packages were immediately reported, following established procedures.
In Kansas, a state office building in Topeka was evacuated after suspicious packages were sent to both the secretary of state and the attorney general.
Although no hazardous materials were detected, several employees exposed to the substance were monitored for health concerns.
Oklahoma election officials also received an envelope containing a multi-page document and a white powder.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, responsible for Capitol security, secured the envelope, and subsequent testing confirmed the substance was flour.
Wyoming officials evacuated a state office building in Cheyenne and sent workers home while the substance found in mail sent to the secretary of state’s office was tested.
Similar incidents occurred last November, when suspicious letters—some containing fentanyl—were sent to election offices and government buildings across multiple states.
While some letters were found to be nontoxic, they still caused disruptions to vote counting in certain local elections.
One notable incident occurred in Fulton County, Georgia, and several offices in Washington state were evacuated, delaying the processing of ballots.
Following these events, many election offices nationwide increased security measures and provided additional protections for staff.
Election officials have been dealing with growing threats and harassment directed at election officials since the 2020 election, fueled by false claims about election fraud.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
