Overview

• Suspicious packages containing unknown substances have been sent to election officials in more than 15 states, prompting FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigations.
• The packages, which have caused evacuations in multiple states, were found to contain non-hazardous materials such as flour.
• The incidents coincide with the start of early voting for high-stakes elections, adding tension to an already charged political climate.
• The National Association of Secretaries of State condemned the mailings as part of a broader trend of threats against election workers.
• This is the second instance in the past year of such packages being sent to election offices, with previous incidents delaying ballot counting and increasing security measures.