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
Menu

Threat Map

The major threats to counting and certifying the vote that we are watching. For each one we list what would tell us it is developing and what would tell us it is happening, with the sources behind each. Tracked through January 6, 2027.

15 threats watched: 6 active, 7 developing, 2 watching. 71 incidents observed in 34 states.

When incidents were observed

Incidents observed each week for this threat. Only incidents with a date are shown.

  • Force and coercion 0 threats, 0 incidents
  • Control of the process 0 threats, 0 incidents
  • Results and legitimacy 0 threats, 0 incidents
  • Violence and threats 1 threat, 28 incidents
  • Fraud and deception 0 threats, 0 incidents

Fraud and deception is shown at zero on purpose. Nothing is filed there yet, so an empty row is a gap in our list, not an all-clear.

07142128IncidentsOct 12Oct 19Oct 26Nov 2Election DayToday
Show the numbers
Week beginningForce and coercionControl of the processResults and legitimacyViolence and threatsFraud and deceptionTotal
Oct 12, 202600025025
Oct 19, 2026000101
Oct 26, 2026000000
Nov 2, 2026000000

2 observed lines have no date yet, or are dated later, and are not shown.

These are the incidents we have observed and sourced, not a count of everything that has happened.

Active Violence and threats Updated

Threats of violence against election workers

Threats, harassment, and violence aimed at election officials, poll workers, and their families, which drive experienced people out and can pressure decisions about counting and certifying.

What has happened

  • Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said a suspicious letter addressed to her office was intercepted before delivery and turned over to Capitol Police and the FBI. Maine brings the states on the map to 25. Preliminary tests so far show no hazardous material, and no arrests.
  • Alaska, Kansas and Kentucky join the map, bringing the states to 24. WIRED reports election offices in at least 32 states were targeted. Kentucky's board says postal inspectors believe more than 700 letters went out. No injuries, no arrests.
  • Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said a letter with white powder addressed to her office was intercepted by a postal inspector and turned over to the FBI, bringing the states on the map to 21. No arrests have been announced.
  • Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin said a suspicious envelope addressed to the Elections Division was spotted before delivery and taken by postal inspectors. Massachusetts brings the states on the map to 26. No arrests.
  • Minnesota's Secretary of State reported a threatening letter with white powder was intercepted, and Tennessee confirmed a package bound for its Division of Elections was stopped, bringing the states on the map to 19. No injuries and no sender named.
  • Delaware's election commissioner's office was evacuated Oct. 15 after staff opened a powder letter, and letters bound for Mississippi and Oregon were intercepted, bringing the states on the map to 17. Delaware staff are back at work from a temporary office.
  • Maryland confirmed a suspicious package addressed to its State Board of Elections was intercepted, bringing the states on the map to 14. No powder has tested hazardous and no arrests have been announced. The FBI, Postal Inspection Service and Capitol Police are investigating.
  • The Illinois State Board of Elections evacuated its Chicago office after a suspicious envelope arrived, and the FBI took custody of it. The office reopened the next day. Illinois brings the states on the map to 20.
  • Suspicious letters reached or were bound for election offices in at least 13 states this week. Arizona, Louisiana, and Oklahoma offices were evacuated, and at least eight letters were intercepted. Officials were told more than 100 went out nationwide. The FBI is investigating.
  • A Brennan Center survey found 32 percent of local and state election officials have experienced threats, harassment, or abuse, and 23 percent are concerned about being assaulted at home or at work.

Where it has been observed

  • Alaska Active since Oct 17, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Alaska Division of Elections, Juneau. USPS flagged the envelope and a hazmat team turned it over to the FBI · Oct 17, 2026
  • Arizona Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • An election office is evacuated after a letter with a powdery substance arrives. Arizona Secretary of State's office, Arizona State Capitol complex, Arizona · Oct 15, 2026
  • Connecticut Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Connecticut Secretary of the State's office, Connecticut · Oct 15, 2026
  • Delaware Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • An election office is evacuated after a letter with a powdery substance arrives. State Election Commissioner's office, Dover, Delaware. Staff moved to a temporary office and resumed work Oct. 16 · Oct 15, 2026
  • Georgia Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. An election office in Georgia, office not named in reports · Oct 15, 2026
  • Idaho Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. An election office in Idaho, office not named in reports · Oct 15, 2026
  • Illinois Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • An election office is evacuated after a suspicious envelope arrives. Illinois State Board of Elections, Chicago office. Staff evacuated and the FBI took the envelope; reopened Oct. 16 · Oct 15, 2026
  • Kansas Active since Oct 16, 2026
    • A suspicious letter is mailed to a state election office. Kansas election office, named by NBC News among offices in at least 15 states that said suspicious packages were mailed to them · Oct 16, 2026
  • Kentucky Active since Oct 16, 2026
    • A suspicious envelope reaches a state election office and is turned over to the FBI unopened. Kentucky State Board of Elections. Staff did not open it; the powder was judged not harmful and the building was not evacuated · Oct 16, 2026
  • Louisiana Active since Oct 13, 2026
    • An election office is evacuated after a letter with a powdery substance arrives. An election office in Louisiana, parish not named in reports · Oct 13, 2026
  • Massachusetts Active since Oct 16, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Massachusetts Elections Division, Boston. Staff spotted it on an FBI and USPIS tip before it reached the office; USPIS took it · Oct 16, 2026
  • Maryland Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Maryland State Board of Elections, Annapolis, Maryland · Oct 15, 2026
  • Maine Active since Oct 20, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows's office. Stopped before delivery and handed to Capitol Police, then the FBI · Oct 20, 2026
  • Minnesota Active since Oct 16, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Minnesota Secretary of State's office. Threatening letter with white powder, flagged by state mail screening before delivery · Oct 16, 2026
  • Mississippi Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Mississippi Secretary of State's office. Intercepted by USPS and HSI; the substance tested nonhazardous · Oct 15, 2026
  • Nebraska Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • A suspicious envelope reaches a Secretary of State's office and is turned over to the FBI unopened. Nebraska Secretary of State's office, Nebraska. The second such envelope sent to the office since 2024 · Oct 15, 2026
  • New Hampshire Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. New Hampshire Secretary of State's office, New Hampshire · Oct 15, 2026
  • Ohio Active since Oct 14, 2026
    • The Postal Service intercepts a letter with a white powder addressed to a Secretary of State. The Ohio Secretary of State's office, Ohio · Oct 14, 2026
  • Oklahoma Active since Oct 13, 2026
    • An election office is evacuated after a letter with a powdery substance arrives. An election office in Oklahoma, county not named in reports · Oct 13, 2026
  • Oregon Active since Oct 16, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Oregon Secretary of State's elections office. Federal officials intercepted the package before it arrived · Oct 16, 2026
  • Pennsylvania Active since Oct 14, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Pennsylvania Department of State, Pennsylvania · Oct 14, 2026
  • South Dakota Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. An election office in South Dakota, office not named in reports · Oct 15, 2026
  • Tennessee Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Tennessee Division of Elections, Nashville. Stopped by FBI and USPS before delivery, announced Oct. 15 · Oct 15, 2026
  • Utah Active since Oct 18, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson's office. Letter with white powder stopped by a postal inspector and given to the FBI · Oct 18, 2026
  • Washington Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • Law enforcement intercepts a suspicious letter bound for a state election office. Washington Secretary of State's office, Washington · Oct 15, 2026
  • Wisconsin Active since Oct 15, 2026
    • A letter with a white powder reaches a state election commission. Wisconsin Elections Commission, Wisconsin · Oct 15, 2026

Open the full page Back to the national picture

How to read this map