Topline
Letters containing fentanyl, baking soda and vague threats have been received by election workers or intercepted by authorities in five states this week, which investigators suspect may be connected.
At least five states have received the suspicious letters. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP) (Photo by … [+]
Key Facts
Election offices in at least five states — California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Georgia — have received suspicious letters this week, including four that contained fentanyl, according to the Associated Press, which cited a statement from the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Investigators are treating the letters as if they’re connected for the time being, CNN reported, noting more than a dozen have so far been reported.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement that one of the fentanyl-laced letters was sent to the Fulton County election office, which processes votes for much of Atlanta within the crucial swing state.
An election auditor’s office in Tacoma, Washington, released images of a letter it received that was postmarked for Portland, Oregon, and read in part, “End elections now,” the AP reported.
Letters sent to offices in Spokane County and Kings County, the latter of which contains Seattle, field-tested positive for fentanyl while a separate letter contained baking soda, according to the AP, which also reported suspicious envelopes headed to election offices in Los Angeles and Sacramento were intercepted by the U.S. Postal Service.
The FBI told Forbes in a statement Friday the matter of the letters is ongoing and that it, along with other law enforcement agencies, “responded to multiple incidents involving suspicious letters sent to ballot counting centers in several states.”
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.”
What To Watch For
Increased safety measures may become more prevalent for election workers facing harassment and intimidation. Nearly three-quarters of local election officials feel threats against them have increased in recent years, according to a report from the Brennan Center for Justice. A transition to paper-based voting systems and physical security improvements would cost $600 million to implement at polling places over the next 10 years, according to CNBC, which cited the Brennan Center.
Key Background
The letters appear to have been sent during municipal elections in states such as Washington and Georgia, where votes were processed this week on city council positions, school district positions, mayoral candidates and propositions. Investigators have yet to determine a motive behind the letters but such suspicious mail being sent to election workers is nothing new. Physical and cyber threats have contributed to increases in election workers leaving their post, as some 11% of current election officials have indicated they will depart from their roles before the 2024 general election.
Further Reading
Election offices are sent envelopes with fentanyl or other substances. Authorities are investigating (Associated Press)
Suspicious letters sent to election offices being investigated by federal law enforcement (CNN)
Threats against election workers driving exodus of veteran staff, experts say (CNBC)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/11/10/election-threats-what-we-know-about-suspicious-letters-sent-to-election-offices-in-5-states/