Law enforcement intercepted a letter containing white powder addressed to the Washington Secretary of State's elections division on Oct. 15, the state agency that certifies Washington elections.
The interception is part of a nationwide investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) into suspicious mailings sent to election offices and congressional offices across the country, first reported by The Associated Press. The mailings arrived less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm election.
Washington officials have not identified the powder in the intercepted letter.
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs condemned the threat in a statement. "An attack on election officials or candidates is an attack on our democracy," Hobbs said. "I thank our federal partners who are doing everything they can to investigate these incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice."
The Secretary of State's office said it is working with the FBI and USPIS to keep election workers informed, according to The Seattle Times.
Nationwide scope
Election officials briefed on the investigation told Votebeat that more than 100 letters were sent to people and groups across the country. It is unknown how many went to election officials and how many went to politicians or other recipients, Votebeat noted in a correction.
Letters were received or intercepted in at least 17 states, according to KATU. In Louisiana and Oklahoma, staff opened or handled letters containing a powdery substance, prompting temporary evacuations. Both offices later reopened after testing found no harmful substances, the Lynnwood Times reported. Wisconsin's Elections Commission also received a letter that field testing determined was not dangerous.
Postal officials intercepted a similar package intended for Ohio's secretary of state. The offices of Democratic Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, Alex Padilla of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said suspicious mail addressed to them had been intercepted, KING 5 reported.
On Friday, Oct. 16, a suspicious package arrived at U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal's Seattle office, prompting a second-floor evacuation. Seattle Fire Department hazmat crews declared the building safe less than two hours later. No injuries were reported, according to The Seattle Times. A confirmed connection between that package and the nationwide mailings has not been established.
Washington prepared after 2023 threats
The incident echoes a 2023 wave when election offices in six states received letters containing white powder. Some of those letters contained threats and traces of fentanyl, prompting some offices to stock the overdose-reversal medication naloxone. King County election personnel received a fentanyl-laced letter in 2023 while processing ballots, FOX 13 reported.
Kendall Hodson, chief of staff for King County Elections, told FOX 13 on Oct. 16 that county offices have been preparing for potential hazards all year. Several county election offices across Washington told FOX 13 that operations are continuing as planned and they have not received suspicious mail.
What Everett voters need to know
Snohomish County has 38 official ballot drop boxes open around the clock until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Drop boxes provide a direct alternative to mailing a ballot through the postal system.
The deadline to register to vote or update registration online or by mail is Monday, Oct. 26. After that date, voters can register in person at the Snohomish County Auditor's Office in Everett through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Voters who mail their ballots within one week of Nov. 3 should visit a local post office and request a free hand-stamped postmark to ensure the ballot is postmarked on time. Voters can track their ballot at VoteWA.gov.
