Nonpartisan. Oath-bound. We endorse no candidate and no party.

  • Become a field reporter for the 50501 Veterans flagship podcast, "The Smoke Pit." Apply Now

Back to Rumor Control

True: Election offices across the country are getting letters with white powder

True

“Election offices across the country are getting letters with white powder”

The facts: This is no longer a rumor and all updates can be found in the threat tracker at https://election-watch.50501vets.com/threats/violence-against-election-workers.

How this story developed

  1. Delaware election staff move to a temporary office and resume normal work, with absentee ballot processing continuing. Federal officials intercept a suspicious package bound for Oregon's election office.
  2. A letter addressed to Mississippi's Secretary of State is intercepted by USPS and Homeland Security Investigations before it arrives. Tests find the substance nonhazardous.
  3. Delaware's State Election Commissioner's office in Dover is evacuated after staff open an envelope with white powder. Several U.S. Senate offices also receive or are sent letters.

Sources

  1. AP via PBS NewsHour: FBI investigating letters to election offices, Oct 15 Other source Archived copy
  2. Votebeat: letters reach election offices in many states, Oct 15 News report Checked Archived copy
  3. KTAR News: Arizona Secretary of State office evacuated, Oct 15 News report Checked Archived copy
  4. State of Delaware: election office relocated, operations resume, Oct 16 Official election source Checked Archived copy
  5. CBS News: letters hit election offices and Senate offices, Oct 15 News report Checked Archived copy
  6. Oregon Capital Chronicle: package for Oregon election office intercepted, Oct 16 News report Checked Archived copy
  7. Mississippi Today: letter to Secretary of State intercepted, Oct 15 News report Checked