FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 16, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
MEDIA CONTACT
Delaware Department of Elections
Cathleen Hartsky-Carter
Community Relations Officer
(302) 484-0392
Cathleen.Carter@delaware.gov
Suspicious Mail Incident Update: Test Results Show No Hazardous Substances Detected & State Election Commissioner’s Office Public Service Operations Will Continue at the DOE Kent County Office in an Abundance of Caution
DOVER, DE – This afternoon, October 16, 2026, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Public Health (DHSS, DPH) completed the initial testing of the white powdery substance found in the suspicious mail received and opened at the State Election Commissioner’s Office yesterday. The initial test results show that no hazardous substances were detected. Confirmatory testing of the white powdery substance by DHSS, DPH is in progress and final test results are expected to be issued by Wednesday of next week. DHSS, DPH has indicated that it has a high degree of confidence that the confirmatory test results will be negative as well.
Out of an abundance of caution, the State Election Commissioner’s Office public services 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
General Election preparations are proceeding to plan, 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 investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the testing by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is ongoing.
The DOE will keep the public informed of any updates.
DOE Information
For more information, visit the Department of Elections website at elections.delaware.gov and connect with the Department on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.
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