Topline
Multiple election offices, including in the Atlanta and Seattle areas, were sent letters containing fentanyl and other substances, according to multiple outlets, delaying vote counts in this week’s elections and triggering an investigation by law enforcement.
Election workers in King County were sent some of the letters. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP) (Photo … [+]
Key Facts
Letters containing fentanyl and other substances were sent to local election offices earlier this week in Washington state, forcing four county election offices to evacuate while workers processed ballots in local races Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
Substances in letters sent to offices in Spokane County and King County—home to Seattle—field-tested positive for fentanyl while another letter contained baking soda, the Associated Press reported.
A fentanyl-laced letter was also sent to Fulton County election office in Georgia but was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Service, according to a statement from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Raffensperger said in the statement that his office was working with state and federal partners to figure out if other Georgia officials were being targeted, adding domestic terrorists would not “trample on our right to free and fair elections.”
There is no immediate indication that other offices in Georgia were targeted, the Associated Press reported, citing an advisory from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
A Department of Justice spokesperson told Forbes in a statement it is aware of the reports and “the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter.”
Crucial Quote
A letter received by Pierce County election workers in Washington said “something to the effect of stopping the election,” Tacoma Police spokesperson William Muse told the AP. “There was no candidate that was identified. There was no religious affiliated group identified. There was no political issue identified. It was just that vague statement.”
Big Number
About 110,000. That’s how many people in the U.S. died of drug overdoses and poisonings last year, according to the CDC. Almost 70% of those deaths involved opioids like fentanyl.
Key Background
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that can cause respiratory failure leading to death if overdosed on, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. The letters appear to have been sent during municipal elections that took place across several states Tuesday. In Washington, residents voted on city and county council positions, propositions and school district positions. Similar matters were voted on this week in Georgia. The motive for the letters isn’t clear, but election workers nationwide have faced a slew of threats in recent years.
Further Reading
Election offices are sent envelopes with fentanyl or other substances. Authorities are investigating (Associated Press)
Fentanyl-laced letter sent to Fulton County elections office, officials say (FOX 5 Atlanta)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/11/09/election-offices-in-georgia-and-washington-receive-fentanyl-laced-letters/