The secretaries of state’s offices in Ohio, Louisiana and Oklahoma received packages containing mysterious powders this week, just weeks before the offices oversee the midterm elections.
Oklahoma and Louisiana said they received the envelopes, while Ohio said U.S. Postal Service investigators intercepted a package intended for it.
National groups representing secretaries of state and state elections directors expressed concern over the suspicious letters in a letter released Wednesday.
“As we have each stated in the past, threats against election officials and workers have no place in our democracy. Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties,” the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said in a joint statement.
“Election officials take these matters seriously and work closely with law enforcement and security partners to protect their staff and facilities,” the statement added.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose echoed the sentiment Wednesday that election officials should “never have to fear for their personal safety while carrying out their duties,” adding that his office was working with state and federal law enforcement following the mailer targeting him.
“Fortunately, delivery of the letter was anticipated by U.S. Postal Service investigators, who are handling similar mailings sent to election officials in several states,” LaRose said, while thanking the Postal Service.
Ohio is one of the few states facing a close election in just a few weeks.
The electoral bodies of Oklahoma and Louisiana, facing less contested elections, were threatened Tuesday, when each state announced having received packages containing suspicious powders.
“We want to assure Oklahoma voters that today’s incident does not impact our ability to conduct elections. Election officials remain committed to ensuring a safe and secure election,” Oklahoma State Board of Elections Secretary Paul Ziriax said in a statement.
Louisiana Secretary of State spokesman Trey Williams said in an email Wednesday that an employee in the office’s elections division opened a package containing a white powder and was taken unharmed to the emergency room “as a precaution.” Williams added that law enforcement found no evidence of “harmful substances.”
“Tuesday’s event had no impact on election operations in preparation for the upcoming election,” Williams said.
Louisiana State Police said in a statement that they responded to reports of a white powdery substance found in a package at the secretary of state’s office.
“LSP is working with the FBI to identify the substance, which was successfully recovered and submitted for testing at the FBI Crime Lab. No employees have reported any injuries or adverse health effects related to the incident,” State Police spokesman Jacob Pucheu said in an emailed statement.
NBC affiliate KTAL in Shreveport reported Tuesday that the Baton Rouge building had been evacuated.
The FBI declined in an email to confirm specific cases or locations. The agency said in a statement that it and the Postal Service were “investigating a series of suspicious mailers sent to various addresses throughout the country, including the Secretary of State’s offices and their associated election offices.”
“Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident. We are also working with our partners to identify the person(s) responsible for the letters,” the FBI National Press Office said.
This is not the first time state election officials have faced threats in the run-up to an election. By 2024, at least 20 states have been targeted with letters containing suspicious powders. In Utah, a shipment containing a suspicious powder was intercepted, along with a letter signed by the so-called US Traitor Elimination Army.
These mailings prompted several agencies, including the Justice Department, to issue guidance on protecting personnel from hazardous materials.
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