FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 16, 2026
DOVER, DE – The Delaware Department of Elections (DOE) State Election Commissioner’s Office in Dover has been temporarily relocated as the investigation of yesterday’s suspicious mail incident continues. The Commissioner’s Office and all DOE offices statewide have resumed normal operations. The State Election Commissioner’s Office will operate out of the Department of Elections Kent County Office until further notice.
The DOE Kent County Office address is as follows:
Department of Elections Kent County Office
100 Enterprise Pl Ste 5
Dover DE 19904
Election preparations including all public meetings, absentee ballot processing, logic & accuracy testing are proceeding uninterrupted, and the DOE is fully prepared to welcome voters to Early Voting Sites statewide next Thursday, October 22, 2026, the scheduled first day of the 10 day early voting period. The Early Voting Sites and Schedule are posted at https://de.gov/votinglocations.
The FBI has taken over the investigation and the Commissioner’s Office building has been closed until further notice by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is testing the envelope and its contents.
To recap the incident, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m., an employee in the State Election Commissioner’s Office of the Delaware Department of Elections (DOE) received and opened an envelope, which was discovered to contain a white powdery substance. Staff members followed security and USPS postal instructions on handling suspicious mail. The envelope was isolated, staff members were decontaminated and evacuated, and the HVAC system was shut down. Additionally, state and federal law enforcement and other partners arrived at the office to conduct an investigation into the incident and test the substance.
The DOE will keep the public informed of any updates.
DOE Information:
For more information, visit the Department of Elections website and connect with the Department on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Delaware Department of Elections
Cathleen Hartsky-Carter
Community Relations Officer
(302) 484-0392
Cathleen.Carter@delaware.gov